The organisers of a Saturday parkrun in Wiltshire were forced to cancel this week's event after a large group of travellers moved onto the park.
The travellers set up camp near the Hope Nature Centre café at Southwick Country Park in Trowbridge with around 17 vans and caravans after breaking the lock on a metal gate to gain access.
It is understood they arrived late on Thursday evening. A large metal table from the park café went missing shortly afterwards.
A parkrun spokesperson said: “It is with great regret that the decision to cancel this Saturday's parkrun event has been forced upon us.
“As a travellers encampment has been set up on the area around the finishing line, we do not feel that it is safe to hold the event.
“We have not made this decision lightly and hope that you all understand.
Another Southwick Country Park user said: “A large group of travellers have made their way into the Southwick Country Park and settled in the field next to the cafe.
“My wife and I took our usual dog walk around the park and a group of teenage boys from the camp were giving us verbal abuse for no reason.
“Please be careful if walking around the park in the morning or at night. Anyone around the local area please be wary as we've already found out from the country park cafe a large metal table has already gone missing."
Cllr John Eaton, chairman of Southwick Parish Council, said: “Wiltshire Council and the police are already speaking to them in an attempt to get them to move on.
“The problem is that Wiltshire Council does not have any designated sites for travellers and that is why there is an issue.
“Unofficial sites are springing up across Wiltshire and it is incumbent on Wiltshire Council to do something about it.”
Inspector Andy Lemon, of Trowbridge Police, said: “We responded to reports of an unauthorised encampment in Southwick around 6pm on Thursday (01/05).
“Our officers are working closely with Wiltshire Council and we have served those on the site with a Section 61 notice – this gives police the power to direct an encampment to leave once the landowner has made reasonable steps to remove the occupants, and certain conditions are met.
“We will continue to monitor the situation.”
The travellers had left the park by Saturday afternoon.
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