COUNCIL chiefs are estimating the latest traveller invasion in Gosport will cost thousands of pounds as workers begin the task of clearing up the Alver Valley beauty spot.

Dennis Wright, chairman of Gosport Council's community and environment board, said: "What with the legal costs of going back and forth to court, manpower and equipment to clear up the site we are expecting the cost to be several thousand pounds.

"It has not been a good summer for us with travellers and I think the time has come to have some sort of national legislation to help local authorities when this happens."

The remaining 20 caravans and other vehicles left the land off Grange Road overnight on Wednesday after being served with a high court repossession order, giving the council the right to remove them if necessary.

The order means that should another group of travellers descend on Gosport the council will be able to act swiftly to remove them.

Almost as soon as they left a small army of workmen was drafted in to blitz the site and remove the piles of waste that had been left in time for the popular HMS Sultan Show.

The show is being staged this weekend across the road from the Alver Valley site that was the scene of the traveller encampment for five days.

Council chiefs have drafted in contractors to help with the clear-up operation.

Heavy goods vehicles were sent on to the site yesterday morning to clear mounds of bricks, rubble and other building materials that had been left behind.

The wreckage of two cars was also recovered by lunchtime from where they had been dumped in the Alver River.

Meanwhile, contractors were going over the area, hand picking rubbish into numerous black bin bags.

One workman said: "You should see the sort of stuff they have left behind. The field is in a filthy state."

Meanwhile Alverstoke councillor Peter Edgar is calling on the council to launch an inquiry in a bid to develop a joint approach with other agencies when dealing with traveller invasions.

He said: "The council has had to act unilaterally this year and did a fine job in evicting the travellers.

"But I think they have got away with far too much this year, and I hope an inquiry will help the council develop a protocol with other agencies on the best and quickest way to deal with travellers in time for next year."

ADDED SECURITY: Police guard the Alver Valley site.