COUNCIL chiefs in the New Forest are taking legal action in a bid to evict travellers who have invaded an area of public open space.

Several families have occupied land near the junction of Monkton Lane and Briarswood Road, Totton, in a move that has alarmed residents.

Totton Town Council fears the travellers will use the site as a dumping ground, leaving the authority to clear the site at public expense.

Last year a travellers' invasion of neighbouring Bartley Park resulted in a major clean-up operation that cost taxpayers £10,000.

Totton councillors later launched a campaign to persuade the government to make it easier for local authorities to evict people who occupy public land.

Today Totton town clerk Derek Biggs blasted Whitehall's "total lack of action".

"We have been trying for nearly a year to convince the government that the present legislation on travellers is totally useless," said Mr Biggs.

"Towns are having to turn themselves into fortresses to defend themselves, or spend enormous sums of money on the problem when it arises."

Mr Biggs said New Forest East MP Julian Lewis had requested a meeting with the relevant minister - and was still waiting for a response.

The Monkton Lane land was occupied on Wednesday evening, shortly after travellers had been caught on CCTV as they searched for a suitable site in the town centre.

Yesterday the families received a visit from Mr Biggs and Hampshire County Council's travellers' liaison officer, George Summers. Mr Biggs added: "People living in the area are concerned about the occupation of the site.

"The travellers say they plan to move on in the next few days, but we intend to ask for a possession order on the land at a county court hearing next Wednesday.

"Our biggest fear is that the travellers will dump their rubbish on the land."

A government spokeswoman said millions of pounds had been spent on refurbishing official travellers' sites in a bid to prevent them occupying public land.

She added that draft operational guidance had been published to help police and local authorities tackle the problem of illegal camping.

She also insisted that adequate powers were already available to deal with any travellers who broke the law.