Residents in a west Hull estate parked their cars in the middle of their road to stop travellers moving into their street.

Homeowners in Mulberry Walk, opposite Pickering Park, were forced to park their cars across the estate entrance in a bid to stop the travellers parking up along the road on Friday night.

The residents claim they were told by police that if they left their cars there and the travellers "rammed" into them to get past, there is nothing they could do.

Travellers in Pickering Park

It comes after a dramatic evening where police descended on the west Hull area when the travellers, who have been camped in Pickering Park for well over a week, tried to move into nearby Costello fields.

It prompted a huge police presence as they moved the group away from Costello, with councillors saying the "only way to keep the peace" was to allow some caravans to move back onto Pickering Park.

Now, a group remains camped on the field, and a 26-year-old woman has told Hull Live there are also about 20 caravans parked up behind Bridgeview Special School.

'Neighbours tried to block road with their cars'

Speaking of how residents tried to block the group, she said: "It was about 8pm last night and a lot of people in the street were looking out their windows at the storm and the lightning.

"Then all of a sudden one caravan came down the street, then another and another

"A few neighbours tried to block the road off with their cars. When they did that a few of them stopped their caravans near our houses and got out and started being abusive towards us all.

"The police said if we had left our cars blocking the road and the travellers decided to ram into our cars there would be nothing they'd be able to do about it, which is just incredible really."

'Travellers have pitched up on nature reserve'

A man, who asked not to be named, said the area where the travellers have pitched up is also classed as a nature reserve.

Travellers return to Pickering Park in dramatic night after 'heated' police exchange

He said: "The caravans are only about 50 or 60 feet away from houses now so it seems closer.

"I think they are maybe looking for work but I've heard they're all going soon to a fair in Birmingham or something.

"It's fairly quiet at the moment but my wife said she has just seen bright lights from the cars and things.


"There are things happening with them that don't get reported and I'm very surprised they haven't been told to move yet.

"A while ago I bought a new tent and went to test it on the field and as soon as I did someone came up to me and told me I couldn't do that, so I don't get how they're getting away with it."

'Heated exchange as travellers return'

A number of travellers returned to Pickering Park on Friday night following a "heated" exchange with police in dramatic scenes on Friday night .

The group, who have been based on the west Hull field for more than a week, were "refusing to leave" after a judge handed them an eviction notice on Wednesday.

But, after the group tried to get onto the fields by Costello stadium, opposite Pickering Park, a huge police presence descended on the area.

At least a dozen Humberside Police cars and vans blocked Anlaby Park Road North in a bid to prevent travellers gaining access onto Costello fields.

After a "heated" stand-off with police, the group returned onto Pickering Park, with one ward councillor saying it was "the only way to keep the peace".

'They are being allowed to go where they want'

Residents in the Mulberry Walk estate are concerned the travellers pitched up behind the school will leave the area in a mess.

One resident said: "We have got children and they usually play out on the front but they won't be doing that now. They will only be allowed to play in the back garden where it is safe.

"Everyone is really angry. They saw the state of how they left Pickering Park before with all the rubbish and how they were just going to the toilets in the bushes.


"They are just being allowed to go where they want and nothing seems to be being done about it."

Maria Coward, Boothferry ward councillor, said an emergency meeting with the west area team has been called.

She said: "We now need to take immediate action to protect our fields and parks. Enough is enough."

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