TRAVELLERS who camp illegally on Hampshire County Council land face being moved on more quickly after the authority reviewed procedures.

The council's policy to control such encampments was last reviewed in 1996 but each year there are around 60 illegal encampments on council-owned land, involving between 150 and 200 caravans.

This can have a key impact on the county council's work and residents living in neighbouring properties.

Over the last three years, the annual legal and clean-up costs incurred by the council to remove these encampments have been on average £26,300.

In future, Hampshire will first apply through magistrates courts to reclaim land and minimise the impact on the community and residents.

For full story, see this week's Liphook Herald.