FEARS are growing that an illegal gipsy camp at the National Eisteddfod site in Newport will not be cleared in time for the start of celebrations.

Nearly a dozen caravans have moved on to a plot of land next to the main car park at the entrance to Tredegar House.

The land was due to be used as a car park for some of the 150,000 visitors who are expected to attend.

Police and Newport council say they are working to move the group, but legal experts predict delays.

Phil Hodder, of Newport-based Atkinsons solicitors, said he would expect it to be a minimum of two weeks before any eviction order would take effect.

The National Eisteddfod is due to start in three weeks. Mr Hodder said: "Newport council will have to make an application to the High Court for a possession order.

"They would then have to serve that on the offending persons, who would have to be given the right to appeal in court before the bailiffs are called in."

Normally, once an order is served, the offending persons are given 28 days to appeal before a bailiff order is granted, although the High Court is able to reduce the notice time.

Now Eisteddfod organisers say they are contemplating the possibility of having to find extra car-parking space.

Eisteddfod chairman John Hughes told the Argus he was concerned about the situation.

He said: "It's really not the kind of impression we want to give visitors to Newport and the Eisteddfod."

The eviction process can be costly as well as long. Each year police and councils across the UK spend an estimated £18 million on evicting gipsies from encampments.

A spokeswoman for Newport council said: "We are working with police on the issue and are hoping they will be able to remove the travellers. "If they are unable to do so, then we will serve a notice of eviction." The council refused to comment on the status of their legal action.