Update: Tickets issued to travellers in Cleethorpes Boating Lake car park

FIXED penalty tickets were issued to travellers who took over a council car park in Cleethorpes. After arriving over the weekend, there were 16 caravans and cars in the Boating Lake car park this morning. The traveller families were visited by North East Lincolnshire Council officials at 9am. They warned the caravans would be forcefully evicted unless they vacated the site. About four fixed penalty notices were issued. The travellers said they will be leaving the car park tomorrow.

An NELC spokesperson said: "The council took immediate action to try to prevent further unauthorised use of the car park and are asking the group to leave the land immediately.

"The council has also started legal proceedings to have the travellers removed.

"The gates to the car parks, off Kings Road, will be closed overnight from 7pm. Our advice would be not to use the car park which the travellers are occupying."

A public notice posted at the site also bars the travellers from returning for three months.

Under new rules launched under a Government crackdown late last month, travellers can receive a hefty fine of up to £20,000 if they set up illegal camps. The move aims to prevent lengthy legal battles like that over the Dale Farm gypsy camp in Crays Hill, Essex, which was occupied for ten years before evictions in 2011.