COUNCIL chiefs will check the welfare of travellers before taking legal action to get them off land at the town's Lakeside Country Park.

Moves to evict the caravan dwellers will only go ahead after the travellers' needs have been assessed by Hampshire County Council's gypsy liaison officer.

Eastleigh Council will be taking a decision as soon as the liaison officer's report is available.

As reported in yesterday's Daily Echo, caravans started moving on to the site off South Street late on Friday night and more arrived on Saturday morning.

More than a dozen caravans were spread across land near the council's South Street allotment site and two were parked immediately adjoining the narrow-gauge track of the popular Lakeside Railway, which draws visitors from across the region.

The illegal camp has already sparked calls to councillors from worried residents living close to the land.

A council spokesman confirmed that a number of the caravans were sited on borough-owned land but the majority were on land owned by Hilliers.

He added: "If appropriate, legal proceedings will be started as soon as possible to remove the travellers from the land. It is anticipated that there will be close liaison with adjacent land owners should legal proceedings be necessary."

Eastleigh's Councillor Peter Luffman, who represents the town's South ward, has expressed concern about the impact on local residents and the "sensitive" park.

Chestnut Avenue resident David Ledger said that he usually exercised his four dogs at the park but decided not to when he saw the caravans.

Meanwhile, Eastleigh police will distribute copies of a newly prepared leaflet - A Guide To Living Alongside Travellers - to households.