A CARAVAN club celebrating its Christmas party was mistaken for travellers when it stayed in a secondary school car park this weekend.

A group of caravans from the Oxford-based Morris Motors Caravan and Camping Club were spotted in the staff car park at Marlborough School, Woodstock, on Saturday.

Several parents of pupils became concerned the vehicles belonged to travellers, seemingly unaware that the car park had been occupied legally.

But the club was simply celebrating its Christmas party, which was held at the school this weekend.

Caravan club chairman Ron Carter confirmed the organisation had used the car park, adding members had used the school for events in the past.

He said: "We were parked perfectly legally with the school's permission."

Mr Carter said club members had parked up in the school grounds at around 5.30pm on Friday, with the last vehicles vacating the premises at 1.30pm today.

Some residents raised concerns about the presence of the caravans, with a photo taken yesterday showing the club had taken up a large proportion of the car park.

More caravans were parked in other areas of the site, with Mr Carter adding the club had contracts to show all members were parked in areas allowed by the school.

More than 1,000 pupils attend Marlborough School, on Shipton Road, including students from Woodstock and the surrounding villages.

Marlborough School has been contacted for comment.