TRAVELLERS evicted from Stanmer Park on Wednesday have joined scores of others at Preston Park.

Dozens of caravans were removed from the Stanmer area after Brighton and Hove City Council launched court action to repossess the land.

But council officers and police have been forced to carry out new assessments in Preston Park after those which were moved on from Stanmer Park joined the existing travellers there.

Council officials have denied they were responsible for leaving the park vulnerable to intrusion after claims from residents that the travellers were able to access the site because the council left an entrance unsecured.

Sussex Police and council officers were in Preston Park yesterday to carry out a site assessment ahead of any possible enforcement action.

A police spokesman said: “Police are aware of a large group of travellers in Preston Park. The park is Brighton and Hove City Council land and they are carrying out possession order proceedings.

A court date is set for Tuesday. Officers have made a number of visits to the park after a number of complaints and PCSOs spent most of Wednesday in the park.”

A statement on the Brighton and Hove City Council website said: “This group has been joined by a number of households evicted from Stanmer Park. We will be visiting this site, with the police, today to carry out a further community impact assessment.”