COUNCIL bosses in the New Forest are demanding a change in the law after witnessing a spate of invasions by large groups of travellers.

Members of Totton and Eling Town Council are furious at the time and expense involved in going to court to evict families illegally occupying public land.

Legal fees and the cost of removing rubbish dumped by the settlers during their stay often result in bills totalling thousands of pounds.

Now civic leaders say the travellers - not the landowners - should bear the expense of going to court.

They spoke out after revealing that the worst incidents, at Bartley Park and the King George V playing field, have cost taxpayers about £13,000.

Councils whose land is occupied by travellers currently have to apply to the county court for a possession order, which can take ten days.

Totton town clerk Derek Biggs wants the government to reverse the process and put the onus on the settlers to seek legal redress.

Mr Biggs said: "We should be able to issue a statutory notice telling the travellers to move on within 24 hours.

"Under that system they would have to vacate the site or go to court if they felt they had a legal right to remain.

"If they don't leave or go to court, the police should be given the power to move them on."

Mr Biggs claimed that most groups of settlers would depart after 24 hours rather than attempt to persuade a judge to let them stay.

Totton has put its proposal to Keith Hill, Minister of State for Housing and Planning, but has yet to receive a response.

Council chairman Neal Scott said residents were tired of seeing the authority having to spend huge amounts of time and money on removing vehicles and repairing the damage they caused.

He added: "The lives of local communities are being ruined by the activities of many of these people."