CLEAR up work is underway after two groups of travellers who moved onto two separate plots in Taunton left this week.

Several vans and caravans were parked on a grassed area in Cleeve Road, Priorswood, and the derelict Firepool site, off Priory Bridge Road, towards the end of last week.

The first group of adults and children arrived in Cleeve Road, where a bollard was removed to allow them access.

Taunton Deane Borough Council leader Cllr John Williams said that the Firepool travellers cut padlocks on gates in the car park off Priory Bridge Road before removing panels to access the site.

A notice to quit was issued at Cleeve Road and the council liaised with police to serve the first notices in the eviction process at Firepool "as a matter of emergency".

Mr Williams warned that action would be taken through the courts if the travellers failed to move on.

But yesterday a Deane House spokesman said: "Travellers have now vacated the Firepool and Cleeve Road sites.

"The DLO open spaces team has visited Cleeve Road to clear up and replace the bollard which was removed and will be doing similar clearing and security works with Firepool.”