Kids' matches cancelled over caravans on pitch

7 hours ago

Tom BurgessNorth East and Cumbria

News image — More than 10 caravans have set up camp on the football pitches

UGC More than 10 white caravans have parked up along the edges of a football pitch. Two vans, one grey and one navy, are parked with the caravans. There are tyre marks in the grass heading towards where the camp has been set up. — More than 10 caravans have set up camp on the football pitches

Junior footballers have had their matches cancelled after a group set up camp on their pitch.

They arrived at Redcar Athletic's playing fields in Teesside at Sunday lunchtime and the club made the decision to contact the North Riding FA and cancel games this week.

The area's MP Anna Turley said she had received reports of dangerous driving and damage to pitches.

Leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council Alec Brown said it was "doing everything we can to resolve the situation as quickly as possible while following legal procedures".

A council officer has visited the site to begin the eviction process, as the occupants are on land deemed to be unacceptable under the terms of the authority's unauthorised encampment procedure.

Club president Kevin Fryatt said: "The last thing we want is vehicles moving in or near our pitches, everything has been cancelled and that is the situation at the moment.

"We know there is some damage, I have had reports that they have driven around the pitches and around the streets near the ground."

UGC A number of white caravans have been parked around the corner of a football pitch. The caravans are spaced apart with vans between them. A one-storey white building can be seen behind them with a flag mast to the left. — The local MP has called for the use of Section 61 powers to move the group on

Turley said damaging community facilities would "not be tolerated".

"I have asked the council and Cleveland Police to urgently pursue the use of Section 61 powers so this unauthorised encampment can be moved on as quickly as legally possible," she said.

Cleveland Police said it was aware of the encampment and was working with the council.

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