Washing hangs on makeshift lines after travellers moved on to the car park of the Lea Manor Hotel, Albrighton.

Travellers today remained on the site of a derelict Shropshire hotel as council chiefs claimed they have no power to remove them. Five caravans moved on to the site of the former Lee Manor Hotel in Albrighton on Friday.

Agents acting for the land owner said steps had been taken to remove them.

John Taylor, gipsy liaison officer for Shropshire Council, said the authority’s hands were tied because the land was not council owned.

He said: “It’s on private land so, although we have spoken to the group and made contact with the owner, the responsibility is with the owner to make an eviction notice.”

Alan Jacques, land owner’s agent from Towler Shaw Roberts, said: “They (travellers) said they were only staying until Tuesday.

“I have reported it to the land owner so he is aware. He is taking the appropriate steps to move them on.”

Albrighton councillor Malcolm Pate, chairman of Shropshire Council, said they had no right to be on the hotel site. He said: “The authorities know about it, but there’s a procedure they have to go through.”

Mr Taylor added: “I’m going out there tomorrow to re-visit them. They pulled up on Friday and I believe the land owner went out and spoke to the group.

“He can serve them notice to quit the land and he can remove them with reasonable force or go to court and get an order.”

The 16-bedroom hotel is empty but agents revealed a planning application had been submitted to transform it for business use.