TRAVELLERS who invaded a protected New Forest common should be gone by Thursday after land bosses served an eviction notice on them.
More than 30 caravans pulled on to Half Moon Common, off Blackhill Road, near Wellow, on Saturday, telling locals they were in the area on a month's holiday from Galway in southern Ireland.
Police were alerted, as well as the National Trust, which owns the protected land, and together they served a notice on the travellers.
However, as rubbish piles up on the rural beauty spot, the National Trust feared it could be counting the cost of a big clean-up operation.
Spokesman Josie Phillips said: "It's inevitable that there will be a cost of clearing up the site but we won't know the extent of that until the travellers leave."
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