Travellers were still in place on a Moray industrial estate last night – despite promising to quit the site by yesterday.
About a dozen caravans took up residence on land belonging to Robertson construction on Elgin’s Edgar Road, next door to the town’s Walker’s shortbread factory, last Tuesday.
The travellers had said they planned to vacate the premises by Wednesday, in order to avoid legal action.
However, the town’s sheriff office confirmed yesterday that the group had been sent papers ordering them to attend court on Friday.
A Moray Council spokesman said it had no authority over the grounds, but has been monitoring the site.
He said: “We keep tabs on the area, and make contact with the travelling community on a daily basis to make sure that the code of conduct is being adhered to.
“That is where our remit ends.”
The Robertson Construction Group was unavailable for comment yesterday, but previously said it had taken measures to remove the unauthorised encampment from its grounds.
Bosses at Walker’s said they had taken precautions to ensure their land is not the next to be occupied.
A spokeswoman said: “We are aware of the travellers taking up residence on Edgar Road and we understand that Robertson Construction is dealing with the situation.
“We have secured our own site to make sure they don’t come in there.”
One woman at the site last week said the travellers were doing their utmost to keep the area tidy until they moved on.