FOUR people have been charged by police following a disturbance involving weapons at a traveller camp.

The incident occurred on Silver Lane in Risley – the site of an unauthorised caravan encampment – in the early hours of yesterday morning, Thursday.

The encampment status is according to the latest official update given by the unauthorised encampment log for Cheshire and Warrington run by Cheshire West and Chester Council.

The suspects are alleged to have attended the site armed with weapons, which court documents state are baseball bats and bladed articles, including a machete and Stanley knife in nature.

A charge of attempted aggravated burglary, faced by all four suspects, alleges that they ‘attempted to enter as a trespasser a caravan with the intention of inflicting grievous bodily harm upon a person therein, and at the time had with them a weapon of offence’.

The quartet were remanded in custody to appear before Warrington Magistrates’ Court this morning, Friday.

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: “At around 12.30am on Thursday, February 2, police were called to reports of a disturbance on Silver Lane, Warrington.

Warrington Guardian:

“Officers attended the scene and found that a group of people had attended the scene and damaged a number of caravans.

“Four people were subsequently arrested in Preston Brook in connection with the incident, and they have since been charged with the following offences.

“Joseph McGinley, 18 and of Nineyard Street, Saltcoats, Scotland, has been charged with affray, attempted aggravated burglary, criminal damage, possession of a weapon and threats to kill.

“Arthur McGinley, 35 and of Warrington Road, Warrington, has been charged with affray, assault, attempted aggravated burglary, criminal damage, possession of a weapon and threats to kill.

“Margaret McGinley, 37 and of no fixed abode, Ellesmere Port, has been charged with affray, assault, attempted aggravated burglary, criminal damage, possession of a weapon, driving without a licence, driving without insurance and threats to kill.

“A 16-year-old boy has been charged with charged with affray, attempted aggravated burglary, criminal damage, possession of a weapon and threats to kill.

“He was also charged with engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a child aged 13 to 15. This does not relate to the Silver Lane matter.

“All four were remanded in custody to appear at Warrington Magistrates’ Court today, Friday, February 3.”