EIGHT caravans of French travellers have left a Worcester car park - and have been praised for leaving it spick and spam.

The gang left The Moors, near the Swan Theatre, of their own accord on Thursday one week after first arriving.

Worcester City Council had started court proceedings to get an official eviction notice, but the process has now been halted after they departed.

Despite being criticised for choosing a popular city centre car park as their location, council chiefs have welcomed their decision to go.

Councillor Simon Geraghty, who represents the area at County Hall, said: “It’s certainly good news that they have moved on relatively quickly.

“It will come as a welcome relief to the community and for people who wish to use the car park.

“Members of the public take a dim view when travellers leave an area in a mess, so it’s welcome that it’s not the case here.

“Because they were on a car park though, most people would have expected them to have paid the relevant fees.

“I’m glad the council and police took prompt action too.”

A city council spokesman said: “We had served a notice and were in the process of preparing court papers, but they have now gone.

“They have left the area clean and tidy.”

If the case did go to court the city council would have been asking for compensation for loss of fees from the car park spaces.

Bosses said despite the presence of the gang, drivers were still using the site in very large numbers.

Coun Geraghty added: “There were cars parked right up to the caravans when I went past the site, people were still prepared to use it.”

West Mercia Police sent officers round last week and revealed the group were from Strasbourg and had come to the city for work - specifically to sharpen tools.