Scores of travellers who forced entry into a disused army base on the edge of Winchester have moved on, police have confirmed.

Officers said the group left Bushfield Camp off Badger Farm Road late last week, but have yet to confirm whether any legal action was taken to shift the encampment.

Residents described seeing a 'convoy' of caravans move the concrete barricade and head into the 15 hectare plot - which has been disused since the 1970s - late Thursday evening.

Police visited the site and said they were working with the landowner, the Church Commissioners, to find a 'suitable resolution' ahead of the weekend.

The Church Commissioners has attempted to develop the area for housing and even a Tesco superstore in the 1980s, but were always resisted by the city council.

The military camp has since been earmarked for a ‘knowledge park’ but the economic situation makes that highly uncertain.

This is the second time in as many weeks police have been called out to travellers who have forcibly set up camp across the Winchester district.

Shedfield Parish Council had to hire professional cleaners to deal with piles of mess - including clothes, food and human excrement - which were left on the common by travellers who tore up wooden posts to access the site.

The Church Commissioners has been contacted for comment.