Travellers left a scene of devastation behind them when they moved off land in Oxford hours before they were to be evicted.

For the past three months, members of the Loveridge family - who have been evicted more than 40 times in the past five years - have been occupying city council-owned land behind the Priory pub, in Grenoble Road, near the Kassam Stadium.

Gary Brewer, manager for gipsy and traveller services at Oxfordshire County Council, said his team would be trying to trace the family and move them out of the city.

It is not known why the family moved in the early hours yesterday, less than 12 hours before Mr Brewer was to formally evict them.

He said: "It's disappointing, as we were all set to evict them from the site and move them on.

"We need to find out where they are, as their very presence brings about scenes like this.

"This is it now, when we find them we are going to bounce them.

"We will keep them moving, serving them with eviction notices and try to get them out of the city - there's nowhere for them to go.

"Oxford City Council has said it refuses to house them, and they can't keep camping up on land like this."

Mr Brewer said his team had been in touch with South Oxfordshire District Council about housing. However, the family had failed to turn up at scheduled meetings to present themselves as homeless to start the process of being offered housing.

He added: "They're not helping themselves and this will keep happening until they do."

The Loveridges, formerly of Dashwood Road, Rose Hill, have been evicted on 41 separate occasions in the past five years from houses and land belonging to the city and county councils - including nine times in the past seven months.

Tim Rackley, landlord of the Priory, said the past three months had been difficult for him and his family.

He said: "I'm glad they have gone. It has been hell and has had an effect on the business. People were driving in and then driving back out again.

"It's been hard for us as well, as we were being kept up all night by the noise they were making. It was a regular occurrence."

Mr Rackley said the events had affected the education of his partner's 11-year-old son, George, as he was being kept up night after night by the constant noise.

He added: "On Wednesday night there was a group of about 20 of them out by the caravans and there was a massive explosion.

"I think someone threw a gas canister on a fire. Since then George has been off school - it really gave him a scare."

The city council said it was too early to estimate the cost of clearing the site, because no-one had been out to see it yet, but that it would be assessed within the next few days.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the Loveridges, or who wants to report unlawful encampments, should call 01869 325796.