MORE than 20 gypsy caravans have moved on to land at Midpoint 18 business and industrial park in Middlewich.

They arrived on Monday morning, creating concern for residents living nearby at Holmes Chapel Road.

Last year, a huge influx of gypsies in Winsford and Middlewich caused chaos in various parts of the two towns.

Residents complained that travellers had become a problem at Coalpit Lane, Stanthorne, Midpoint 18, Bostock farmland, Woodford Lodge High School and car parks at American Fried Chicken, Morrisons and Aldi.

One Middlewich resident, who asked not to be named, said: "We had terrible problems last year with gypsies pitching their caravans in the town.

"They left land in a terrible state. We don't want this happening again. The police should be doing something about it."

A spokeswoman for the environmental health department at Congleton Borough Council said that action was being taken to move them.

She said: "We are aware of the problem and we have made the owners of the property aware. We are at the moment seeking an injunction to move the gypsies."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.