Gypsies who moved their 12 caravans onto a empty site in Calne over the weekend have now left.

Residents living nearby were angered when they saw caravans being moved on to the field in Lansdowne Park, opposite Honeysuckle Close, on Saturday, but police have confirmed that they left yesterday.

Several residents contacted the police to report the travellers, who had moved on to private land owned by Persimmon Homes, which is awaiting future development.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said: “Officers attended and spoke with several of the travellers who said that they were under the impression that they had parked on common land.

“Persimmon Homes visited the site with police officers on Monday morning and the construction manager requested that they leave as soon as possible.”

PC Marina Boardman, community beat officer for the Calne rural area, negotiated with the travellers that they would leave the site yesterday, saying this would give them a reasonable amount of time to find an alternative location.

All of the vehicles have now been removed from the site and Persimmon Homes confirmed that no damage had been caused.

Spokesman Chris Smythe said: “Persimmon Homes will be reassessing the security provision on development sites and are very pleased with the effective work of officers.”