Travellers are back on playing fields in Salendine Nook for the second time in two years.

Residents say travellers broke a lock off the gate at the Celandine Avenue playing fields off New Hey Road on Tuesday night.

At first there were five caravans but more joined during Wednesday.

It is only a couple of weeks since travellers moved off from the car park at the former Spotted Cow pub across the road.

In August, 2014 as many as 20 caravans parked up on the Celandine playing fields trashing the football pitch, used by two local teams, and making the children’s playground a no-go area.

When they left after two weeks the field was strewn with rubbish bags, discarded food, nappies and gas bottles.

A resident, who asked not to be named, told how the travellers arrived on Tuesday night and there were eight caravans by Wednesday lunchtime.

“The gate is always kept locked since last time and they have broken in again,” he said. “We are getting fed up of this. They are in the middle of the football pitch again.

“Travellers have only just gone from the Spotted Cow. They had rugs for sale hanging outside and generators running all the time.

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“But it was their kids I was scared for. They were running around and I was scared they would run into the road.”

Kirklees has been plagued by travellers in the last few weeks. Travellers converge on West Yorkshire at this time of year as they head to the Lee Gap horse fair at West Ardsley at the end of the month.

The 800-year-old event is where the travelling community buy and sell horses.

Travellers pitched up in the car park at the Sainsbury’s store at Shorehead in Huddersfield last month – demanding £2,000 to move – and also stayed for 10 days on the Old Bank Rec off Old Bank Road, Mirfield, bringing 20 horses with them.

Some briefly moved from Old Bank to the Rocket Park playground in Stocks Bank Road, Mirfield, and there is now another illegal camp on the Princess Mary playing fields in Liversedge.

Last Friday police used powers under Section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 to move travellers off rugby fields in Leeds Road, Shaw Cross, Dewsbury, because a junior gala was due to be held the following day.

Police only use the powers in certain circumstances and otherwise leave it to the landowner – often Kirklees Council – to take court action.

It takes about 10 days to evict travellers with a court order.

A council spokesman said legal proceedings were underway for both Salendine Nook and Liversedge.