Travellers have arrived at a playing field in Ipswich - almost three years to the day since a toddler was killed in a collision with a van at the same site.

Ipswich Star: Caravans and vehicles arrived at the site on Sunday afternoon.Caravans and vehicles arrived at the site on Sunday afternoon.

Four caravans and several vehicles set up camp in Bramford Lane Recreation Ground, just off Lovetofts Drive, on Sunday afternoon.

Suffolk Constabulary and Ipswich Borough Council have been made aware and are working to move the group on.

On July 23, 2013 20-month-old Ryan Ward was hit by a van used by travellers in Bramford Lane Recreation Ground.

He died from head injuries.

An inquest ruled the boy’s death was accidental.

Flowers have been left for Ryan at the park every year since the tragedy, with mourners returning to the site this Saturday to mark the third anniversary of his death.

A resident of nearby Henniker Road, who did not want to be named, said she heard fireworks going off in Bramford Lane Recreation Ground from around 8.15pm to 10.20pm on Sunday.

She added: “Last time [travellers moved onto to the field] they completely wrecked the play area and all the play equipment was broken so we ended up waiting weeks for new parts to arrive so our children couldn’t play.

“Rubbish was left everywhere and it took weeks for people to tidy up behind them.”

A Suffolk Constabulary spokeswoman said the force was alerted at 2.30pm on Sunday.

Officers have visited the site on several occasions, the spokeswoman added, including responding to reports that fireworks were being set off on Sunday night.

“We are currently working with partner agencies, including local councils, under agreed protocols around unauthorised encampments,” she said.

A spokesman for Ipswich Borough Council, which owns the recreation ground, said the authority was taking all the necessary steps to secure possession of the site, and urged residents to inform the police if they have any concerns about anti-social behaviour.