COUNCIL officers face another round of court action to evict travellers.

Groups of travellers have set up on a popular park in the heart of Mirfield.

Angry residents and councillors have demanded that Kirklees Council take prompt action to shift them from Knowl Park but have been told there will be no court hearing until July 8.

It is believed the travellers were among a large number evicted on Thursday from a playing fields site in Liversedge.

They were evicted from land off Primrose Lane, Littletown – due to be used this weekend for part of the Cleckheaton Folk Festival.

Council officers called in police to assist in the eviction.

A spokesman said: “The police can use special powers to move an encampment if there are extreme circumstances involved.

“The fact that the festival relies on its campsite to be available for its survival meant that these special powers could be invoked.

“Unfortunately, this avenue is not available with respect to the new encampment at Knowl Park and this application has to go through the court process in the normal way with the first available court date being the morning of July 8.”

Organisers of the folk festival said it would go ahead.

Festival director David Minich said: “Everything is as normal. Campers can go to the site. There are no problems. Kirklees Council has been fantastic in clearing up the site.”