TRAVELLERS camping on playing fields in a quiet cul-de-sac have been described as nice and polite by residents living opposite.

The group, made up of people from France, Germany and Norway pitched up in Falkirk Road, Wroughton, with 30 caravans on Monday evening, prompting residents to call the police.

But people living in the area, including staff from the nearby junior school, have been pleasantly surprised to find the travellers have been respectful.

“They have not been a problem at all,” said Brian Comer, 78, who has lived in Falkirk Road with his wife Gillian for 51 years.

“I saw the first caravan come in and it was followed by three others and I thought ‘oh no.’

“I phoned the police straight away and they said they would pass it on to a traveller liaison officer.

“But the kids aren’t noisy, there’s no drunkenness and they’ve perched themselves neatly around the field.

“It is also the first time this has ever happened so really we can’t grumble.”

However, Brian added: “The only thing I’m concerned about is if there is any rubbish left behind. Having said that, at the moment they have stacked their rubbish in the corner.”

Just two weeks ago, piles of waste, including old carpets and broken glass, appeared after travellers broke in and parked their caravans at Shaw Forest after moving from Rushey Platt.

It was also reported a group were staying in Marlowe Avenue, Walcot, over the weekend.

But the visitors in Wroughton could be seen sitting in the sunshine yesterday while youngsters played football.

They were approached by the Adver but their English was not fluent enough to share details of what brought them to the area.

The council and police have also been in regular contact with the visitors and served a Section 62 notice on them on Tuesday, ordering them to be off the site by 6pm yesterday.

It meant if they did not move the police would have the power to remove the vehicles and caravans.

Officers were at the site from 5pm to supervise them as they left.

Meanwhile, another resident said: “It was a nightmare when I first looked out the window and saw them but they are really quiet and are not rowdy how you would think.

“They came Monday evening at about 5.45pm and within 30 minutes the police arrived. Officers were down again yesterday checking.

“It’s just the rubbish we are worried about. We’ve never had this situation before.”

A council spokesman said: “We always work with the police to find out what travellers intentions are and if necessary, persuade them to move on without any need for legal action.

“This is our preferred approach.

“We have got legal powers to remove anyone who is on council-owned land without permission, but in the vast majority of cases it isn’t necessary to use them.”