THE travellers who have pitched up at a popular park in Hereford have been told to move by Herefordshire Council.

Aylestone Park, which is run by volunteers, shared pictures of at least nine caravans, along with cars and vans, parked on the large car park at the back of the site, off the A465.

The travellers pitched up on Wednesday evening, with police visiting the site the same evening, and during the day on Thursday.

A spokesperson for the park added: "Unfortunately, it would appear that we have uninvited guests staying over in the large car park on the park.

Police say that they did not initially find evidence of criminal damage.

Herefordshire Council also said on Thursday that it was aware of an "unauthorised encampment in the grounds of Aylestone Park".

"Appropriate visits and actions are being undertaken to resolve the situation," a spokesperson said.

On Friday, the spokesperson added that the travellers were still at the park and had been served a "direction to leave notice".

It will give the group time to leave the site before an application can be made to the court.

Aylestone Park is on the northern boundary of Hereford city and extends to some 47 acres.

The park has three distinct areas known as the "conservation" area on the upper area of the park, the "recreation" area and orchard on the hillsides and the mostly flat "sports" area.

The whole area is maintained, almost exclusively, by volunteers.

These volunteers constructed over five kilometres of stoned footpaths on the park, two viewpoints and a number of picnic areas during the past 18 years.