A huge charity event is at risk - because of travellers.

Members of Elland Round Table hope to raise thousands of pounds for local charities with their annual bonfire and firework display next week.

But their plans have been put on hold because travellers have set up camp on the site.

The group moved on to Hullen Edge recreation ground on Thursday evening and legal action is now being considered to evict time.

But Round Table officials fear that could take days and need access to the site from next Monday.

Table chairman Malcolm Coton said: “The whole event is under threat. We need the site prepared and we cannot move it elsewhere.

“We are expecting anything up to 5,000 people to come along on Saturday, November 1, and getting a site ready for that number of people takes an awful lot of work.

“We have 1,000 wooden pallets being delivered early next week to set up the bonfire but we have also made arrangements with a host of companies to supply the equipment we need.

“There are portable toilets being delivered along with fencing and floodlights and they all need to be set up.

“We went along to the site on Thursday and there are several caravans and trucks on the site.

“We have been in touch with Calderdale Council and the police, but it is a civil matter and we have been told it may have to go through the courts”.

Click below to see fantastic images from more than 50 years of Bonfire Night in our area.

 

Calderdale Council’s Head of Neighbourhoods, Andrew Pitts, said: “We understand that travellers arrived at Hullen Edge recreation ground on Thursday night. There is evidence of forced entry to the site.

“As soon as we became aware we put our procedures into place for dealing with this, and we are working with the police. Our main concern is that the Round Table and other people in the community can continue with their events and everyday activities.

“We will be looking to use our legal powers to move the travellers on swiftly.”

The Round Table expect to raise several thousand pounds with the firework display and distribute those to charities and good causes across Calderdale and Kirklees.