A GROUP of travellers have left the county after vacating an Oxford park-and-ride.

Caravans previously occupying Oxford Parkway and the connected Water Eaton car park in Kidlington have crossed into Warwickshire after police issued the encampment with a section 61 'dispersal order' yesterday.

Oxfordshire County Council confirmed the site is being cleaned up this morning

It comes after a large group of travellers were forced to leave another site yesterday following pressure from police.

A fleet of more than 100 caravans made their way into Begbroke Science Park near Kidlington in the afternoon.

Police were at the scene within minutes as the road into and out of the Oxford University facility just off the A44 became blocked.

Oxford Mail:

The news comes after a traveller encampment vacated Oatlands Park Recreation Ground in west Oxford on Tuesday morning, after occupying the site for two weeks.

Just hours later there were reports of the Kassam Stadium car park being put on ‘lock down’ as travellers briefly arrived at the site around lunchtime.

However police arrived hot on their heels and the majority of the group was moved on.

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "Officers have been present at the Kassam Stadium, in Oxford, today following a report of an unauthorised encampment.

"Due to the impact those present had upon the site, powers under Section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act were authorised.

"These are powers police have to move unauthorised encampments from the land.

"Specific criteria need to be present for this power to be applied.

"This prevents those who have been present from re-entering the land as a trespasser within the next three months.

"Approximately half of those present have now left the site and officers are working to facilitate those who remain to leave.

"No arrests have been made."

Police have confirmed the 'dispersal order' was made for the traveller encampments at Water Eaton, by Oxford Parkway, and at the Kassam Stadium.

Officers confirmed the same group that had been at the Kassam had then arrived at Begbroke later in the afternoon.

One motorist who was passing Begbroke Science Park at the time said officers had used a police van to barricade the entrance to prevent any further caravans making their way onto the site.

As a result vehicles began parking along the side of the A44 before the whole group was moved on at about 3.30pm.

Oxford Mail:

The witness said: “There is a long road into the park and they are all parked along the side.

“The police are there and they have just blockaded the entrance so no-one can get in.”

Last week residents near Oatlands Park Recreation Ground had complained about the mess that was building up around the camp which had been there since November 25.

After the group vacated the site this morning piles of rubbish could be seen strewn across the grassland.