NEW powers to disperse and potentially prosecute illegal traveller encampments have been granted to the borough council through a High Court injunction.

Test Valley Borough Council will now be able to turf out illegal encampments swiftly - without needing to wait for clearance from the court.

The news has been welcomed by council leader Councillor Phil North who heralded the ruling as “absolutely fantastic”.

It comes after a spate of incidents over the past year where illegal traveller camps have set up across Andover and frequently returned to Picket Piece, Picket Twenty and Saxon Fields.

Also in this week's paper:

- BAME people three times more likely to be hit with lockdown fines

- Mother's plea to fund life-changing equipment for son

- Andover leisure centre set to reopen after lockdown

- Rangers to patrol Andover town centre from September

- Death of grandfather in care home ruled an accident by inquest

- Boy, four, grows giant sunflowers three times his own height

- Five more pages of puzzles to keep you occupied at home

- News from our patches, including Whitchurch and Overton and Tidworth and Ludgershall

- Two pages of the latest sporting news

- Two pages of YOUR letters

- And much, much more

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