A GROUP of travellers has descended on a Stockport industrial estate in at least 20 caravans, causing "chaos", according to business workers.

Employees at Chapel Press, on Bredbury Parkway Industrial Estate, say they are "living in fear of repercussions" if they attempt to challenge the travellers about taking over their car parks.

But, while one traveller insisted they were there to work and earn a living, the staff at Chapel Press said that roaming dogs, rubble, beer cans and other litter left in the car park is bad for business.

A sales director from the company, who did not want to be named, said: "The caravans are blocking the road and car parks and it's chaos for customers visiting us and for our suppliers making deliveries.

"One morning we even got a knock on the door asking if we could move a delivery lorry from our loading bay, because it was blocking them in. I think it's shocking they can just pitch up here."

The company occupies a building accessed by a service road, all of which is owned privately and not under local authority control.

As a result, Chapel Press has been told by the council that it is its responsibility to evict the travellers, some of whom arrived before Christmas, and pay any costs of waste removal.

Caravans are also parked on adjacent land in the car park at Sterry House.

Nobody from the company, which owns the lease on Sterry House, was prepared to comment.

One traveller, known only as Big Dave, said he had arrived a few days earlier from his home in Derby and had come to Bredbury to work.

He said: "There's a few different groups of travellers here. I came to do some work lopping trees but I'm going back home to my house in Derby at the end of the week."

Bredbury and Woodley councillor Chris Gordon said: "I have sympathy for both sides. It's not for me to judge a particular lifestyle but, at the same time, it's difficult for the landowners."

The Chapel Press spokesman added: "One of our visiting customers has been bitten by a dog and I was bitten on Tuesday. You may ask why we are not doing anything but we live in fear of the repercussions that could transpire from a confrontation."

A Stockport Council spokesman confirmed that they were talking to the travelling community generally to establish their needs. Since 1994 local authorities are no longer under an obligation to provide sites for gipsies and travellers, leading to a shortage of available sites, according to the Commission for Racial Equality.

The council spokesman said: "Travellers have occupied two areas of private land on the industrial estate for several weeks and we are monitoring the situation. The council is not responsible for moving travellers off private land - it is the landowner's responsibility.

"However, environmental health officers can arrange for litter and rubbish to be removed, at cost to the landowner. The council is, along with all local authorities in Greater Manchester, presently consulting with the travelling community to determine their needs."

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