QUICK-thinking staff at a Blackheath soccer centre ran to lock the car park gates to prevent an invasion of travellers.

A security officer at Goals had to leap out of the way as one of them attempted to run him over and staff faced aggressive behaviour from the group.

One caravan managed to pull onto the car park on the Halesowen/Blackheath border in Cakemore Road on Monday afternoon.

Manager Gareth Cheadle said: “When it was obvious the rest couldn’t get on they chose to remove the caravan and the group moved on.”

He said four or five caravans tried to set up an illegal camp on the car park at about 4.30pm.

“They were a bit aggressive and one of them tried to run over our security man, but the vehicle wasn’t moving fast and there were more of us than them,” added Mr Cheadle.

It is not known where the group, whose vehicles had Irish number plates, went after leaving Goals.

Halesowen North councillor and cabinet member for environmental services Hilary Bills, who vowed Hurst Green Park would be protected after a traveller invasion earlier this month, urged residents and business to stay alert to the threat.

She said: “I’m delighted the staff at Goals acted so swiftly and bravely against what sounds like an aggressive group of travellers.

“I would ask that all residents stay alert. Don’t give the travellers work, whether it is to clean or tarmac a drive and report suspicious activities to the police or the council.”

Travellers set up an illegal camp at Goals more than a year ago and were there for about week before they could be moved on, leaving a lot of mess for staff to clear.

Mr Cheadle said the company was now considering installing overhead barriers to stop caravans accessing the car park, although they would cause difficulties for delivery vehicles.