TRAVELLERS have come under fire from traders and residents after setting up home on two sites.

Nine caravans have turned up on an industrial estate in Eatock Way, Atherton, less than three days after another group of travellers left.

The new set of travellers cut down a fence and broke locks on a gate to get on to the site, where they have remained for the last six days.

And in Manchester Road, Bolton, more travellers have moved on to a disused garage forecourt.

Residents and traders in both areas are furious, and say the travellers are making the area unsightly.

In Atherton, the caravans are parked on a plot of land which is currently being developed as a business premises by Breeze Engineering Services Ltd.

The company's owner, Dave Riley, says he has had to put part of the construction work on hold until the travellers move off the land.

He said: "It's disgraceful. These people can simply break on to our land, and there is little or nothing we or anyone else can do about it.

"The mess they are leaving is awful and they have been seen using the land as a toilet. The traders are disgusted, and it's badly affecting my business.

"The other traders are horrified. It is keeping people away from the industrial estate.

"We have only just got rid of one lot, and another arrive. It's ridiculous."

A resident living close to the Manchester Road site, who did not want to be named, said: "We don't want these people round here. People who live nearby don't want to walk past at night, and the mess is incredible.

"People are scared what may happen to their property.

"We pay our rates, and these people do not and they simply do as they please, trespass, and have no regard for anybody."