PERSUASION, rather than legal action, was used to secure the peaceful moving on of travellers camped for four days in front of St Lucia Lodge on the Lindford Road.

The travellers told the commandant of the Bordon Garrison, Colonel Roger Owen, they were camped by the lodge and in the RE Lines buildings because they had nowhere else to go.

Col Owen agreed they could stay on MoD land until Sunday, providing they did not leave rubbish strewn around the site.

About 18 caravans set up camp on the grass in front of the disused military building last Wednesday evening, accompanied by six lorries and two horse boxes.

A different group of travellers set up camp in the RE Lines buildings to the left of St Lucia Lodge the same evening.

Along with six caravans, the second group had brought with them eight vehicles, one cockerel and a dog.

Spokesman for the Bordon Garrison Maj Jim Willcoxson said the Ministry of Defence police had asked them to move on before the deal was struck.

"The travellers pleaded that they did not have anywhere to go but said if they could remain there until Sunday they would go willingly and leave the area clean and tidy."

Maj Willcoxson said the decision had been made by Col Owen to give the travellers four days' grace and let them leave of their own accord.

But the vsistors did not fulfil their side of the deal entirely, said Maj Willcoxson, and bagged rubbish had been left at the site.

He said: "This had to be picked up later, but it was all in bags rather than strewn all around the site."

Maj Willcoxson said the MoD does not like travellers camping on its land and will always move them on.

He added that he believed the travellers had now moved to a site in Surrey.