THE travellers who set up an illegal campsite in Eckington have lost their bid to overturn a court order banning them from moving their caravans back there.

Their caravans were parked on land off Tewkesbury Road for nearly a year but were ordered off by Wychavon District Council in April.

They have now been left with a legal costs bill expected to run to more than £10,000 following their defeat at the High Court last Friday.

The judge, in dismissing their case, ordered that they must pay the £6,500 bill run up by the council in meeting their challenge to the earlier court order.

Additionally, the eight travellers, who were not legally aided, will have to pay their own costs which could easily put their total bill over £10,000.

The judge, Sir Richard Tucker, said he had sympathy for the travellers but held there had been no error of law when the decision to order the travellers off the site had been made. This is not the last Wychavon will hear of them however. Chief executive, Jack Hegarty said: "There is to be a planning inquiry in September when they will apply for planning permission."