Travellers with horses and dogs set up camp near homes in Oxford this week, provoking protests from residents.

A group of about 12 caravans, towed by transit vans and lorries, moved into Cutteslowe Park, in north Oxford, on Tuesday night at about 7pm. They left at about 6.30pm last night.

Police spokesman James Clements said four officers visited the travellers at 8.30pm on Tuesday, but angry neighbours said the officers did not arrive until much later in the evening.

Residents who spoke to the Oxford Mail said they were too scared to give their names.

A man living in Priors Forge said: "The police didn't come out until about 10pm, right after the football game. I think it's diabolical. I have two Italian students living with me and they were told to get out of the park by the travellers. They said it belongs to them.

"I know they've got to have somewhere to live, but everyone around here is absolutely cheesed off. They made quite a lot of noise last night, out playing football."

Another resident said: "About eight of us phoned the police as soon as they started arriving but they were nowhere to be seen. If the police had bothered to come out straight away, they could have stopped the rest of them coming in.

"I think it's appalling when we pay our council tax. It's not like this is a field somewhere, it's a main public park in Oxford."

Another resident of Priors Forge said: "I don't really mind, they haven't done anybody any harm.

"But it does annoy me that if you went on to the park with a golf club and a ball, or pitch a tent, or fly a remote-controlled plane, the park warden would be on to you straight away and you would be stopped. They stay here for hours before the police pay them a visit."

The group had several horses and a Shetland pony.

Cutteslowe Park is maintained by the city council.

Councillor for Cutteslowe Tony Hollander said: "The council isn't going to appreciate hoof marks and horse manure. We'll all have to pick up the cost of that in our council tax.

"I deplore their unwanted incursions into our parks. We have a responsibility to give them an area to live, but when they are migrating there's not a lot we can do about it."

When approached by an Oxford Mail reporter yesterday, the travellers declined to comment.