Travellers that set up camp on a Congleton car park have been issued with a notice instructing them to leave by 6pm tonight.

There are currently five caravans parked up on the Antrobus Street car park.

The group of travellers were originally located at the Congleton Leisure Centre car park on Friday before moving to Antrobus Street on Sunday.

A Cheshire East Council spokesperson said: "We can confirm that there is an unauthorised traveller encampment of five caravans on the Antrobus Street car park in Congleton.

"We understand that this may be the same group previously occupying land at Congleton Leisure Centre.

"An officer from the Cheshire and Warrington Gypsy and Traveller Liaison team has visited the group and welfare checks have been carried out.

"A Section 77 Notice has been served and the travellers are instructed to leave the car park by 6pm on 23 March."

Meanwhile, Cheshire East confirmed that the site at Congleton Leisure Centre had been cleared up by Congleton Town Council staff.

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The car park, on Worrall Street, had been secured by a locked barrier but on investigation, the lock "appears to have been broken at some point".

A Cheshire East Council spokesperson continued: "A planning application has been submitted and, if approved, would allow the council to press ahead with its plans for a Gypsy and Traveller transit site in Middlewich.

"A transit site should go some way towards alleviating the problem of unauthorised encampments in the borough."