DOZENS of travellers took over an Alresford park.

More than 50 caravans were situated on Stratton Bates Recreation Ground in Grange Road.

Local residents say that the travellers were on the site for a day before being removed by Alresford Town Council.

Police were called to the park and they said they had reports of assaults and thefts in Alresford.

However they did not say whether these were related to the travellers.

A spokesman for Hampshire Constabulary said: "We were made aware of an unauthorised encampment in Stratton Bates Recreation Ground and officers visited the site to assess the situation, working with the landowners to resolve the issue. The group left the site on July 27.

"There have been reports of two attempted robberies of children’s scooters, two minor injury assaults and one non-injury assault in the Alresford area over the last 24 hours. Investigations into these incidents are ongoing."

It is not known where the travellers went after they left the site on Thursday evening.