Councillors at a parish council meeting locked themselves inside a building when a family of travellers turned up outside.

Upton-by-Chester parish councillors were holding a meeting on the development of their neighbourhood plan when they were told by a distressed member of the public that some travellers were trying to get onto the field at Upton Pavilion.

When they discovered that a caravan had driven into the car park on Wealstone Lane and attempted to park across a number of parking spaces, worried councillors called the police.

Upton councillor Brenda Southward told The Chronicle they locked the Pavilion door in fear.

"I could hear voices and someone banging on the office window. We locked ourselves in and I admit I was quite scared as I'm not very mobile," she said.

"We rang the police and to be fair they arrived very quickly. I drew the blinds around the main room as one chap was looking in at us."

A Cheshire police spokesperson said: "At approximately 9.20pm on Monday, May 23, Cheshire Police were informed that a group of travellers had set up camp near to the Pavilion on Wealstone Lane, Upton, Chester.

"Officers attended the site and liaised with both the local residents and the travellers, as well as providing reassurance to residents in the local community. No offences had been committed."

The travellers were still in the car park as of this morning (Wednesday, May 25) but a Cheshire West and Chester Council spokeswoman said they have been issued with a notice to vacate the land by the end of today.