The group took up residence on Sunday evening and are on the same land where travellers were camped illegally in May last year.

City council spokesman Michael McGivern said the local authority was working to have the travellers removed from the site.

"We served a notice on them yesterday to move on immediately and today we will seek a court order," he said.

"We will apply to the courts for a possession order which will be heard shortly. If they do what they're supposed to do they should be gone within a week.

"We don't know if it's the same people as last year."

The travellers were eventually moved on last year after the council obtained a notice to force them to vacate the land, which was left heavily littered.

The field was strewn with rubbish-filled plastic bags, roofing material, sewage, refrigerators, sofas, tyres and clothing, which cost the council hundreds of pounds to clean up.

Insp Mark Watson said: "The land is owned by Chester City Council. The council are aware and are going through the usual court actions.

"There are five trailers and a couple of people have already left since Sunday. It's quite a small group and they should be moved on by the end of the week.

"We have no complaints from the public."

When asked about the litter left behind by the group of travellers last year, he said: "When we have a group arrive, the police and the local authority work hand-in-hand and we would expect the travellers not to cause these sorts of issues.

"We try to make sure that people don't litter. This is a very small group but there are officers that will go down and liaise with them, provide bin bags and make sure the place is left clean and tidy."