A LANDOWNER is today warning travellers to move off his land before they get stuck for longer than they bargained for.The group of travellers, armed with approximately 20 caravans, arrived on land off the old Norwich Road, between Claydon and Ipswich, on Sunday.

A LANDOWNER is today warning travellers to move off his land before they get stuck for longer than they bargained for.

The group of travellers, armed with approximately 20 caravans, arrived on land off the old Norwich Road, between Claydon and Ipswich, on Sunday.

Now farmer William Stennett has applied for a court order to move the group on. And he says if they do not go soon their homes could get stuck in the mud.

"I need to establish if they have plans to move on," he said. "If it is soon there's no problem but they can't stay there for long.

"For one it is part of an arable rotation site that's set aside and secondly it's like a quagmire when wet. If they stay when it rains they won't ever get off."

Mid Suffolk District Council visited the site yesterday but will not be taking any action against the group.

John Grayling, environmental control manager, said: "The group have indicated they will move by the weekend although it is hard to know whether to believe them.

"They don't appear to be causing any problems. The only complaint we've had was from the landowner."

Mr Stennett started civil proceedings on Monday but it will take a few days for the order to be processed.

A police spokesman said: "The police have a general duty to preserve the peace and prevent offences to the person and property but trespass on land alone is not a criminal offence.

"The prevention of trespassers is the responsibility of the land owner and occupier, not the police."

The arrival of the travellers comes after a similar sized group left land at Gallows Hill, near the landfill site in Baylham, at the weekend.