POLICE have moved on large groups of travellers who set up base at two sites in Chester.

Travellers at the former garden nursery opposite Vicars Cross Golf Club on the A51 and a field owned by Chester Zoo opposite its Caughall Road entrance were given their marching orders.

All but three of 50 caravans at the zoo site, which started to arrive at 8pm on Tuesday, had left by yesterday morning.

Police exercised powers under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act after staff said they were being intimidated.

Officers arranged for the three remaining caravans, which had been left unoccupied, to be moved, and they were gone by 10am.

Zoo spokeswoman Rachael Ashton said: 'We brought in a security firm to give visitors and residents extra reassurance while the travellers were there.

'We had been applying for a court order but that takes a while so we're grateful that the police moved them on in the meantime.

'From what I can gather the field is now very untidy and there are things like gas bottles strewn around which we now need to clear up.' Travellers who had been at the A51 site approaching Littleton for a week had also been moved by yesterday morning - but not before starting a large fire which had to be extinguished by firefighters.

Crews were called at 10.20pm on Wednesday.

Vicars Cross city and parish councillor, Graham Proctor, who reported the travellers to the city council, said: 'I think they moved here from a site near the Deva Link Road and they told the police they were here for a wedding in Merseyside.

'Council Tax-payers in Chester end up picking up the bill for getting these people moved which seems unfair.' rob.devey@cheshirenews.co.uk