Free ride for travellers in park

In a move which will further anger residents, Town Hall chiefs told the Burnley Express it was "council practice" to remove machines in such circumstances.

Around a dozen traveller caravans pitched up at Burnley's iconic park overnight on Monday, en route to the traditional Appleby Horse Fair in Cumbria, which starts today.

A Burnley Council spokesman said: “We have to take a pragmatic approach when it comes to travellers on our car parks.

"It’s council practice to remove ticket machines to avoid possible criminal damage to property. We are working hard to remove the travellers from the site and bring the car park and surrounding land back into proper use as quickly as possible.”

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