New age travellers living near an abandoned ski park in Sheffield have been ordered to leave the area to make way for a multi-million pound extreme sports site.

The council decided in 2017 to turn the ski village, which was opened in the 1990s but has been derelict since a fire in 2012, into a £22.5m sports complex.

This would require the 30 travellers who have lived there for 13 years to move.

‘The occupants have settled there and have looked after the area by cleaning it up, keeping crime down by being security for the surrounding businesses,’ said a petition against the eviction on the website 38 Degrees.

‘Sheffield City Council are wanting to move the travellers as they are wanting to re open the Ski Village as a sports facility,’ the petition continued.

‘This will make the Travellers homeless and having to find somewhere else to live. This may have an effect on the children living there because they may have to find new schools and may also effect some of the traveller's health.’

A court, however, has found in favour of Sheffield City Council and ordered the travellers to move.

‘I would like to thank the judge for the decision he has made today and the clarity it provides for both the council and the new age travellers,’ said Jim Steinke, cabinet member for communities and safer neighbourhoods at the council.

‘We have always said we want this case to be heard fairly and impartially for the benefit of the community who live at Parkwood and for the wider population of Sheffield.

‘We will now consider next steps and communicate these with all concerned in the near future.’