Travellers have moved from one site at the end of a residential road to another just a few hundred metres away.

The convoy of caravans and other vehicles - which had been camped on land near Park Avenue in Bushey for around a week - arrived at Radlett Road Playing Fields on Thursday night.

Half of the group left the fields at around 9pm on Monday, only to pitch up at the nearby rugby club. The other half has remained on the playing fields. 

Watford Borough Council said it was attempting to remove both groups under the same proceedings used to evict them from the playing fields, although it added this was unlikely to be successful. 

The travellers have recently occupied numerous sites in the borough and so the council said it was currently exploring two options to prevent a recurrence.

The first is to get an eviction order that enables the council to go straight to eviction through bailiffs should the travellers reoccupy council land.

The second is pursuing an injunction to proactively prohibit the travellers from occupying land in the borough. 

Mayor of Watford Dorothy Thornhill said: “Travellers need to be aware we will not tolerate illegal behaviour, and will act quickly, within the legal process, to ensure eviction takes place.

“I want to reassure residents that this is an issue we take seriously. We always act swiftly and work with the police to ensure eviction takes place. However, we must follow the legal process.”

Cllr Karen Collett, responsible for community, added: “We have no idea why we are having more incursions, but we understand this is a national problem.

"Sadly these travellers know exactly how the courts work and they play the game, moving from one borough to another and then back again. We are working with our partners to act as quickly as we can.

“As soon as the sites are cleared we will always ensure a quick and thorough clean up takes place.”