Travellers who played a cat and mouse game with the authorities by moving back and forth between open spaces are understood to have moved on.

The group moved between Eastbrookend Country Park and Central Park in Dagenham over a period of 10 weeks as they faced a series of council evictions.

But Barking and Dagenham Council said today that the travellers had left the last place they stayed at, a car park in Central Park, Rainham Road North.

The Labour council added it was not aware of the travellers currently staying in Barking and Dagenham.

A spokesman said: “They left Central Park on Friday, January 11, and they are not on any council sites at the moment.”