All sports fixtures set to be played on Penwortham Holme this weekend are expected to be cancelled due to the traveller encampment.

The travellers were originally at Tardy Gate but moved over to Penwortham Holme on Tuesday (August 29).

South Ribble Borough Council have said in a statement that they expect to fixtures to be cancelled due to the travellers still being present and the damage the vehicles have caused to the ground.

The statement said: “We’re moving as quickly as possible through the legal process to remove the travellers from our land, but this may take until next week.

“We will then need to assess the damage caused by vehicles being driven on to the grass.

“We had installed barriers in a hope to prevent this happening again and are now working hard to find a better way to secure the area.”

More: Travellers set up camp on Penwortham Holme

It is believed the travellers accessed the area by removing the padlock that held the height barrier as well as the lock on the gate installed for the car park.

Penwortham Holme has become a popular location for travellers, with camps setting up in both 2015 and 2016.

?Due to play sport at Penwortham Holme this weekend? READ this update! Pls share!? pic.twitter.com/9HtKLbXYra

— South Ribble Council (@southribblebc) August 31, 2017

An earlier statement from South Ribble Borough Council said: “The latest situation is that South Ribble Borough Council has commenced legal proceedings to remove the illegal settlement.

“We are doing everything within our power to get them moved on as soon as possible.”