Irish travellers took over a car park at Cheshire East’s multi-million pound HQ for nearly a week.

More than 30 adults and children in 10 caravans were living in an overspill car park at Westfields in Sandbach for most of last week – just 100 yards from where hundreds of council staff, including chief executive Erika Wenzel, are based.

They left over the weekend after Cheshire East applied for a court eviction order.

The group, who could be heard playing loud music for hours at a time, had arrived in a convoy including several transit vans last Monday after being moved from Foden’s Factory on Moss Lane, Sandbach, by police and Cheshire East staff.

"This is a protest against the councils," said Maureen, one of the travellers.

"It’s not just against this council, but all councils.

"All we want is a site where we can stay permanently. A site which has electricity, toilets and water."

Westfields has been the council’s headquarters since its formation in April 2009.

The transition to what is the third biggest unitary authority in the north west cost £16m.

Dot Flint, a former Sandbach councillor, said: "It’s rather amusing that they had the audacity to set up between two official buildings."

Cheshire East councillor Rachel Bailey, cabinet member for safer and stronger communities, confirmed that a group of travellers had set up site on the overspill car park at Westfields.

There were about 10 caravans on the land until the council started taking action to take back possession of the site.

Inspector Mark Gammage said: "The council applied for an order to move the travellers on and went through the normal channels.

"This group were moved on from a site in Moss Lane and drove straight there."

An application to move them made by the council was lodged at Crewe County Court.