CHESHIRE County Council has forked out more than £10,000 so far to clear up the mess left by travellers on just one site next to a Northwich school.

Legal fees to force the group's eviction and the clean up bill to rid land of the mess and debris they left will be met out of the county council's contingency fund.

Furious parents contacted the Guardian in July this year after travellers moved on to land next to the playground at Rudheath Community Primary School, on Gadbrook Road, forcing staff there to keep frightened children indoors when dogs belonging to the group gained access through a fence.

County councillor for Rudheath George Mainwaring told the Guardian that the latest estimate had reached £8,750 plus VAT, with that figure not including the legal charges which will push the total bill even higher.

A spokesman for the county council confirmed that Clr Mainwaring was correct, and said: "We had to call in machinery to remove rubble and debris that had been tipped on the field.

"The rubbish was then transported for landfill, which added to the cost."

Clr Mainwaring said: "It's time the Government stepped in to address this issue because at a local level things aren't working as they should.

"To get anywhere we need respect on both sides to enable us to work together but it seems to me that the travellers don't want to respect the landowners here."

Vale Royal Borough Council has also had travellers settle on its land in recent months, and a spokesman said each case has to be handled with care.

She added: "We investigate circumstances with the police and seek to negotiate an early departure date with the travellers before taking legal action.

"We have to be mindful that gipsies and Irish travellers are recognised as a racial group for the purposes of public order and anti-discrimination legislation."