A BAND of travellers has moved on peacefully just two days after they vowed to stay in a public car park for as long as possible.

Villagers looked on as about 20 caravans and cars poured into the Snells Wood car park, Cokes Lane, Little Chalfont, owned by Chiltern District Council, at about 7.30pm on Sunday. But yesterday council workers were beginning a clear-up operation after the travellers suddenly left.

Leading traveller Billy-Jo Conya said on Monday that the group had been shifted from a site in Barnet, North London, and would stay on the land for as long as they could.

The 22-year-old added: "We want a permanent site to stay on. We don't leave rubbish lying around we are not like that. We are no trouble to anyone."

The district council was forced to close the car park and asked Buckinghamshire County Council to start proceedings to have the travellers moved on. A council spokesman said an officer visited the site that same day and issued a directive for the group to leave.

A council spokesman said yesterday: "They left a moderate mess gas cylinders, builders' rubble and effluent and it will take anothe day to clear."

Lacis Andreou, owner of Nightingales Antiques, opposite the car park in Nightingales Corner, said on Monday: "My wife feels quite intimidated by them so I won't leave her in the shop and the travellers' kids are running wild around the shopping parade."

The Rev Terry Hurst, who works closely with travellers in South Bucks, said because the travellers were in a public car park they did not have a legal right to stay. He said more permanent sites for travellers in Bucks are needed.