The Leader of Test Valley Borough Council has said he is "delighted" with an injunction against travellers after it was used for the first time.

Travellers set up encampments at Pioneer Way to the west of town, and Walworth Business Park in the east, on Friday September 25.

Council officers and police attended both sites on the same day, informing the travellers of the order and causing them to disperse.

Phil North, Leader of TVBC, said that the use of the injunction had “saved a lengthy court process.”

He said: “My thanks to Hampshire Constabulary for responding so quickly. I’m delighted that the injunction is so far proving successful and I hope the swift action of both council officers and the police will act as a further deterrent to prevent unauthorised encampments in and around Andover.”

The injunction was granted back in July by the High Court, making it illegal for unauthorised traveller encampments to be set up in or around Andover, extending out as far as Wherwell in the west and Picket Piece in the east.

It also agreed to attach the power of arrest to the injunction, so that those in breach of the order can be detained by police and brought before a court.

At the time, Judge Bird, granting the injunction, referred in his remarks his remarks to “deeply unpleasant antisocial behaviour”; “serious criminal damage” and “real risks to the health of those who live close by” caused by unauthorised encampments.

The injunction does not ban all encampments from the borough, merely those that are not previously authorised by TVBC. Their negotiated stopping policy allows travellers to ask for permission to set up a camp on TVBC’s own land prior to their arrival, provided they meet certain considerations, such as size and road accessibility.

At the start of the month, TVBC also passed a motion to lobby the government to make trespass a criminal offence in order to further combat unauthorised encampments.