RESIDENTS breathed a sigh of relief after travellers who set up an illegal camp on their doorsteps were evicted by police.

A police spokesman confirmed yesterday that they had left without the need of force after being ordered off land by Bassetsbury Lane, High Wycombe.

Residents in the street told how they were woken in the dead of night by barking dogs only to find eleven traveller's caravans pitched up on Wednesday morning.

One resident said her neighbour is too frightened to sleep in her house and has vowed to stay with relatives until travellers move off.

The resident, who did not want to be named, said: "Nobody told us they would be arriving. It is very upsetting. The dogs bark though the night."

The resident of Bassetsbury Lane, High Wycombe, said she was left confused after calls to Wycombe district and Buckinghamshire County Council left her in the dark about whose responsibility it was to move illegal travellers on.

A district spokesman said the council owns the land and moves are now underway to evict the caravan.

She said: "We are aware of them. It's our responsibility. We plan to have them evicted as soon as possible. After that it's not our responsibility."

She added the county council are obliged to provide an alternative camp for travellers.

A county spokesman said: "The police have been brought in because of the number of complaints. It is not because the travellers caused aggro. It is down to the speed of process. They can usually move them off within one day whereas legal constraints means the council may take up to five days."

It is the county council's responsibility to ensure enough official sites are provided for travellers. They have eight official sites in Buckinghamshire.

Police will start moving travellers today and they should be gone in 24 hours, say the county council.