Travellers who were 'trapped' in an Isle of Wight car park after initially refusing to leave have now vacated the site.

Having been threatened with the prospect of having their vehicles towed last month (October), all but one of the four remaining vans were moved by their owners, the County Press has been told.

The remaining vehicle was taken away by low loader and has been delivered to the mainland. 

What happens next to the land remains to be seen.

Malcolm Thorpe, of Bembridge Harbour Authority (BHA), which claims to own the site, said plans for the future will likely to decided in the new year.

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He said planning for development on the land is "very unlikely".

The row erupted in April when BHA sent a letter asking the community to vacate half of the car park, which is designated as having village green status.

BHA said travellers were parked there "unlawfully", not following rules and "mistreating" adjoining land.

These claims have always been strongly refuted by the travellers, who say they have been there, on and off, for years with no problems at all.

The car park at Bembridge Point now emptyThe car park at Bembridge Point now empty (Image: BHA) The travellers obliged, parking in the other half and bollards were laid out to separate the two sides.

But, within a few days, some of the bollards had been moved - something the travellers deny doing.

This led to concrete bollards being installed at the entrance to the car park, meaning no vehicles can get in or out.

After they refused to move, the travellers were told their vehicles would be scrapped and money donated to charity.

In September, when asked whether the site would be reopened as a car park, Malcolm said: "It is our intention to return the site to be used as a general car park [obviously not including the village green area] – but only when the present position is resolved".

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary and the Isle of Wight Council have always refrained from getting involved.