A family of travellers will spend their eighth day camped illegally on an Oxford park because police have been too short staffed to serve an eviction notice.

Ten caravans have been camped without permission on Oatlands recreation ground, off Ferry Hinksey Road in West Oxford, since Thursday last week.

Despite promising to evict the family, police have failed to serve the legal notice due to staffing problems.

A police spokesman said: "Due to resourcing constraints, the police were unable to action the eviction as quickly as we would normally like to do.

"However, wherever possible, we will serve notice jointly with the local authority to ensure that illegal traveller encampments are moved on with minimum disruption."

Yesterday Oxford City Council revealed that it would not be dealing with the eviction The task has been handed to Oxfordshire County Council. More than 70 calls were made to the city council from angry residents near the park yesterday.