Travellers who moved on to the Oxford Retail Park at Cowley over the weekend promised to leave last night following complaints from traders.

A group of families in three caravans -- some from southern Ireland and others from the Bristol area -- took over several car parking bays at the busy trading centre on Friday night. They were joined by others over the weekend.

They had gathered for a memorial service for traveller Martin McDonagh, who was killed on the M40 near Oxford last autumn.

A memorial mass was held at Corpus Christi Church, Headington, on Sunday.

But there were complaints about the presence of so many large vehicles in the car park.

Michelle Kirven, 32, the manager of the Burger King restaurant on the retail park, said: "They've been in here shouting and carrying on and being rude to staff."

Staff at Mothercare World, NEXT, Boots and Tesco declined to comment about the travellers' presence. However, some admitted the travellers had been refused entry to their premises.

The travellers arrived in the car park near the Tesco store on Friday, but moved to the area near Mothercare after being moved on by bailiffs -- believed to have been employed by Tesco.

Bailiffs yesterday served new eviction notices requiring the travellers to leave by 9am this morning.

But one traveller, who asked not to be named, said they were preparing to move last night.

Inspector Geoff Robinson, manager of the Oxfordshire Traveller Management Unit, said the police had not been asked by either Tesco or Mothercare to get involved.