A children’s football pitch has been damaged by a group of ‘aggressive’ travellers who forced their way in and are refusing to leave.
At least six vehicles including trucks, motorhomes and a caravan formed an ‘unauthorised encampment’ at Ludgvan Lions Junior Football Club near Penzance, Cornwall, on Thursday evening.
The group forced their way into the site by ripping off a gate before driving their vehicles directly across Ludgvan Lions’ football pitch, according to Club vice-chairman Joe Pritchard.
After being confronted, Mr Pritchard said the travellers refused to move and were ‘very aggressive’ and ‘threatening’.
Photos of the damage show upturned nets and deep tyre tracks stretching across almost the length of the pitch, with the travellers’ many vehicles parked nearby.
The club is believed to have suffered further damage since the group set up camp around a day ago.
Devon and Cornwall Police are now investigating the matter.
A police statement read: ‘Police have received reports of an unauthorised encampment in the area of Ludgvan Community Centre and the football pitch.
At least six vehicles including trucks, motorhomes and a caravan set up an ‘unauthorised encampment’ at Lugdvan Lions Junior Football Club, near Penzance, Cornwall, on Thursday evening
The group forced their way into the football club by ripping off a gate before driving their vehicles directly across the club’s pitch
Photos of the damage show upturned nets and deep tyre tracks stretching almost the length of the pitch, with the travellers’ vehicles parked nearby
‘It has been reported that damage has caused in order for access to be gained and further damage to the sites also caused.
‘The local neighbourhood and response units have been informed for enquiries to be made.’
Frustrations over the unauthorised encampment in Cornwall come just a week after a dementia centre was forced to close in the county after a group of travellers set up camp outside the charity’s HQ.
A fleet of caravans and other vehicles pitched up close to the Reflections community hub in Camborne on April 10.
The group had reportedly been encamped on a car park a couple of miles away for several weeks and were only kicked off after the local council served an eviction notice.
Residents were left outraged after noticing the camp site, claiming it ‘stinks of weed’.
Pictured are the defensive concrete barriers that were installed to stop travellers accessing the car park of a dementia charity last week
Camborne Mayor James Ball said he was aware of concerns over alleged ‘antisocial behaviour’. Speaking to MailOnline, he added: ‘This is a very delicate situation. The caravans in the area have been evicted from another area.
‘Concrete bollards were put in place as a preventative measure to stop them getting into car park of the dementia centre.
‘If they got into it, it would have made it tricky. It would have meant a whole civil action to evict them and we would have had to wait for weeks to get the bailiffs in.’
The charity were forced to close their doors to patrons for ‘at least a week’ after being left with no access to parking.
