A TRAVELLER family has evaded eviction from land in a Hampshire village by moving its caravan a few metres onto another field.

Police and bailiffs visited Colden Common, near Winchester, to remove Michelle Shand and Mitchell Mills, both 37, who the landowner claims had settled without permission.

The pair are understood to have lived on the plot in Nob’s Crook for several years with four children and are in a legal dispute with landowner Anna Gaillard.

But officials who went to resolve the matter were unable to evict them because they had already moved their caravan onto unregistered land nearby.

Chairman of Colden Common Parish Council, Cllr Richard Izard, said: “It’s all just chaos. Police were there all afternoon. The bailiffs then arrived.

“The travellers have moved their static caravan onto a different bit of land; it’s all a bit clever. The police were rather hampered.”

Ms Shand, who moved to Southampton with her children last year, was visiting Mr Mills in Nob’s Crook when bailiffs arrived to deal with the situation last Thursday afternoon.

The family claims Ms Gaillard backed out of a deal to sell the land.

Sgt Stuart Gilmour attended the scene with three officers to ensure there was no breach of the peace.

Contractors and a forklift truck were also present to clean up the scene, which was strewn with tyres and trashed cars.

Winchester City Council chiefs have now launched an investigation.

A spokesman said: “We understand the travellers have moved to adjoining land and this will be investigated by our planning enforcement team in the usual way to establish the facts, determine if there is a planning breach and, if there is, decide what action is appropriate.

“This is assuming that the landowner – if known – does not instigate his/her own action.”

Colden Common is a popular area for travellers. Several are believed to have gathered recently on Portsmouth Road, between Marwell Zoo and Bishop’s Waltham.