TRAVELLERS have invaded a former gypsy site on the outskirts of Basingstoke - just four days after Hampshire County Council ruled it was to be permanently closed.

Overnight on Monday, travellers cleared away tonnes of concrete and earth blocking the entrance road of the Peak Copse site on the A30, south of Basingstoke.

Eighteen caravans with 70 people are now occupying the site which they claim they have taken over under squatters' rights.

They have put up legal notices at the entrance and vow they will fight in court any attempts to move them.

Simon - a spokesman for the group who would not give his full name - told The Gazette: "We are going to fight this legally.

"We have got advice from the solicitor for itinerant people. The solicitor for travellers is coming down from Birmingham to represent us.

"We have been given notices under section six of the Criminal Law Act, which we have put up at the entrance. Once we have these notices up, no-one can just get a court order to evict us - it has to go to the High Court.

"We intend to stay here for a lifetime and send our kids to the schools around here.

"We want them to get the education we never had. We have 18 caravans here with 26 adults and 45 kids.

"It is a home we want. We are claiming squatters' rights on this site.

"We were not aware that it was only last Thursday that the county council confirmed the permanent closure of this site.

"This is not some kind of protest as a result of that. It is pure coincidence that we are here today."

He denied having anything to do with removing the barrier and claimed that the site was open when the travellers arrived.

Another traveller, who refused to be named, said: "We are out of everyone's way here. It is better for us to be here than breaking into factory car parks or football fields to have somewhere to put our caravans.

"This is a purpose-built site. It has toilets and showers and everything. I don't know why they ever closed it down. We don't mind paying rent. We just want somewhere to stay."

A Hampshire County Council spokesman said: "A group of gypsies broke into the Peak Copse site under cover of darkness using heavy earth-moving equipment.

"They moved a number of six-tonne concrete blocks and then cut through steel gates to gain entry to the site.

"We are seeking to recover possession and have instigated proceedings. We will have to contact education and welfare assessment services as a matter of course."

It was only last Thursday that the county council's policy and resources review committee confirmed a decision by council leader Ken Thornber to permanently close the site - despite protests from Liberal and Labour councillors.

They claimed it should be re-opened as all the other travellers' sites in the county were full.

Peak Copse had been temporarily shut down since 1996 when there was a violent incident there involving firearms.