Two groups of travellers have moved off a site in Oxford after being told to leave by police, but it is thought they will set up a new camp in the area.

About four weeks ago travellers took over a former oil depot at the bottom of Railway Lane, Littlemore, prompting complaints to the police.

At one point there were up to 12 caravans at the site.

At Oxford City Council's south east area committee meeting on Monday, Sgt Granville Williams, Thames Valley Police's sector sergeant for the Blackbird and Greater Leys area, said the site was being regularly visited by police and action would be taken to remove the two groups.

By yesterday afternoon the vehicles had left the site and it had been secured.

Cllr Pat Stannard said he was worried the travellers would simply move back into Blackbird Leys.

He asked if there was anything that could be done to stop this.

Sgt Williams said: "What we are trying to do is prevent them coming back to sites they have been on. As sites are identified we work hard on the prevention side."

Insp Geoff Robinson, manager of Oxfordshire's traveller management unit, said last Thursday the two groups on the Littlemore site -- a family which has lived in Blackbird Leys for many years and a group of New Age travellers -- were served with a notice requiring them to leave the site by 8am yesterday.

He said it was likely that the group would set up a new camp somewhere in the area.

In Oxfordshire there are six official sites for travellers, but they are full.

Insp Robinson said there was a national shortage of space for travellers, which had forced many on to roadsides.

The traveller management unit was formed to monitor the behaviour of travellers, in a partnership between Oxfordshire County Council and Thames Valley Police.