Council bosses say they are set to order a group of travellers to leave after they moved to derelict land close to the Accrington Matalan store.

The four caravans and five cars have been at the bottom of Portland Street and Steiner Street since the afternoon of Friday, May 1.

On Wednesday, Mark Hoyle, head of housing and regeneration on Hyndburn council, said: “Council officers visited the illegal campers on Portland Street yesterday to undertake welfare assessments. The council’s next step is to issue a notice requiring the campers to vacate the land within 24 hours. If they don’t comply with the notice then we will seek a possession order from the Court without delay.”

The travellers were previously served with an order to leave derelict land next to the Civic Arts Centre and Theatre on Union Road in Oswaldtwistle.

The travellers left the site on May 1, however returned less than 15 minutes later and were then served with an immediate order to leave by police.

They have previously been ordered off Baxenden Recreation Ground after a week-long stay last month before moving to Oswaldtwistle on April 24.