CIVIC chiefs at Christchurch breathed a sigh of relief on Monday (May 24) when travellers who camped in the council offices car park over the weekend moved out before today's pomp and circumstance of the annual mayor-making.
The convoy of some 10 caravans arrived in the car park behind the civic offices in Stony Lane South on Friday night sparking fears their encampment would create parking chaos for the hundreds of VIP guests and dignitaries at the ceremony.
But when town hall officers began the lengthy process of evicting the travellers - a different group from those moved on by a court order last month - they found them preparing to leave of their own accord.
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