PEOPLE living in Highworth have been given their reaction to another visit by travellers to the junior football club's pitches in the town.

Last Friday, a group of around 17 caravans was spotted on the Highworth Rec.

It is unclear how they gained access.

It followed problems caused by travellers in both July 2021 and last month. On the first occasion, pubs and the town's leisure centre were forced to close and the junior football club's facilities were vandalised.

This time, bosses at The Plough Inn decided to close while authorities dealt with the incursion.

Swindon Borough Council issued an eviction notice to leave the area by 10am on Saturday morning and the group complied.

They have been banned from the borough for 12 months.

Now residents have been expressing their frustrations following the incident.

One resident commented on social media, saying: “I feel so sorry for the businesses that have to keep closing for their safety.

“With times as they are they can ill-afford to lose money.”

But there was sympathy for the travellers and the travelling community.

One resident said: “I feel sorry for the traveller community that don’t cause problems that aren’t welcome anywhere because of those who have no respect. I also feel for the children who only see hostility and are on the move again every few days, with no friends outside their community.”

Another one commented: “I think it’s important to remember that not all groups of the travelling community behave the way this particular group did!”