A community waste service was cancelled this week after travellers moved on to a car park near a town centre.

The popular service at Didcot, which South Oxfordshire District Council introduced instead of providing skips for householders to dump their rubbish, is normally provided at the car park on the Station Road Industrial Estate on Saturdays.

But travellers moved on to the car park site on Sunday after a lock on a barrier was broken. The car park is now occupied by several travellers' caravan homes and their lorries.

Council spokesman Tanya Ramsden said: "Residents with rubbish to dispose of are advised to take it to the Drayton civic amenity tip, which is open from 8.30am to 4pm daily."

Police have visited the Station Road Industrial Estate car park, and council officers have been to the site to assess the situation.

Travellers told the council that they had nowhere else to stay and wanted to remain on the car park as long as possible.

Ms Ramsden said: "The district council, which owns the car park, has issued a notice requiring the occupants to vacate the site by Monday."