A SCHOOL camp was cancelled after travellers moved onto land near to the field pupils were to use.

North Berwick’s Law Primary School P6 pupils were looking forward to the trip to Yellowcraig, by Dirleton, where one class was due to camp out tonight (Wednesday) and another tomorrow (Thursday).

Two of the school’s four P6 classes had already taken part in the one-night camp last month.

In total, 54 youngsters were expected to camp out this week.

However, Jill Wareham, the school’s headteacher, contacted parents on Monday to say that a decision had been taken to cancel the overnight stays after “a group of people” camped near the field they use.

The school is still going ahead with the daytime activities planned as part of the camp but asked parents to pick up their children from Yellowcraig at 7pm.

Mrs Wareham told parents in an email: “You may be aware that there is a group of people camped near the field at Yellowcraig where we usually hold our camp out. This has various implications for our risk assessments for the trip and, having taken advice from a number of sources, we have decided not to stay overnight at the site this week.

“We realise this will be disappointing news and apologise for any inconvenience, but we will look into the possibility of the pupils having a night in tents at another venue after the summer.”

The camping trip is usually held in a field on the left of the road leading into the car parks at Yellowcraig.

An East Lothian Council spokesperson said: “While the pupils will be taking part in all of the planned activities, arrangements are being made for them to be picked up at 7pm instead of camping overnight.

“This decision has been taken as the school understands there may be a number of people already using the area.”

One parent said: “The children are really disappointed but it’s the correct decision.”