GIPSIES camping on a waterlogged Newport field who threatened to relocate to a city car park have moved on.

The gipsies said conditions at the unauthorised site at Coedkernew were so bad that unless the council helped out, the group would "help themselves".

But this morning the gipsies had left the site near Church Lane - leaving piles of refuse and junk. Neither the police nor the council has had any reports on their whereabouts.

The Argus reported in July how the group settled on land near Church Lane in Coedkernew, after controversially camping at Tredegar House, weeks before the start of the Eisteddfod.

Residents say they are frustrated that land near their homes is being used as a makeshift camp site.

But this week traveller Barney McDonnagh, 48, said rain had turned the site into a quagmire and the group were thinking of moving to a car park. He said: "I have written to the council asking to rent the field officially, but there's been no reply.

"We are willing to pay towards the cost of a hardcore path and proper facilities, but as it is, we will have to move on. If they don't help us, we will have to help ourselves."

Councillor Bill Pursey, of Marshfield ward, said: "That kind of pressure is totally unjustified. There're plenty of non waterlogged places in other areas. We've had enough of it here."

This morning Councillor Pursey inspected the abandoned site, and said: "It's a filthy mess. The council need to put a stronger barrier up."