A Bradford company claims it has been left with a bill of £40,000 after travellers set up home on its land.

Bosses at Trans-Hire say the group left a trail of devastation and destruction at the new site in Tong Street.

The van and truck rental firm was due to move into the new building at the end of the month but now says the move will be delayed until December.

The company has also been forced to pay for full-time security.

The company is just one of a number in Bradford who are having to pay hundreds of pounds for eviction orders through the county courts to get travellers off their land.

Groups of gipsies have arrived on car parks at shops and businesses throughout the city but because the land is privately owned, firms have to finance legal action themselves.

Trans-Hire manager Terry Halliday said: "We couldn't believe our eyes when we saw the state of the building. It took more than ten days to get the travellers off and we had to pay all the legal costs.

"There was rubbish and faeces everywhere, the workshop had been completely gutted, all the electrics and the plumbing had been pulled out and all the windows had been smashed.

"They have absolutely wrecked the place and the office was only refurbished six months ago."

Groups of travellers have been moved off the car park at The Maestro club in Manningham Lane, the Transperience site at Low Moor and also at the Halfords store on Leeds Road, Thornbury.

Halfords manager Steve Gore said: "We were amazed to arrive at work to find caravans and vans all over our car park.

"The problem for businesses is that the only way to get them off is through the courts and it is costly.

"We must have lost trade because of it as customers would have been put off."

Bradford Council's gipsy liaison manager Steve Knowles said: "Ultimately it is the landowner who must take action to remove them - the council can only take action if the land is owned by the council. If businesses are worried about becoming regular targets for gipsies, officers will offer advice about security."

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