LEGAL action is being taken against a group of travellers who have set up shop in a car park in the centre of Newton Abbot.

A convoy of caravans parked up in Cricketfield car park last week, taking up some 18 valuable parking spaces.

Eye-witnesses claimed the unwanted visitors have been hanging up their washing around the car park and dumping rubbish everywhere.

A spokesman for Teignbridge Council, which owns the car park, said: ‘In accordance with legal procedures we are going to court and seeking to issue proceedings to have them removed at the earliest opportunity.

‘Legal rules state there must be two clear days between the court issuing a claim and a hearing date, at which the matter will go before a judge.’

The district authority official added: ‘We are monitoring the situation to help minimise the impact to customers.

‘We have also arranged for any rubbish left behind by the travellers to be removed.’