Police descended on a travellers' camp on Weston-super-Mare seafront today (May 9) after residents blasted the group for causing 'havoc'.
Officers knocked on caravan doors, talked to occupants and took pictures of number plates, according to witnesses.
The encampment, on the Beach Lawns, consists of around nine caravans and several vehicles - and it's understood they are still there.
One resident, who wished not to be named, spoke to our sister title Somerset Live about the travellers.
He said groups were often spotted in and around Weston-super-Mare.
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He said: “It’s just an ongoing thing. They come round every so many months.
“They do a circuit. They go from here down to Brean, then to Taunton, then to Wellington before coming back up to Weston-super-Mare.
“They’ve got a good plan, but it just disrupts everything. People don’t want to park their cars there - we have to secure everything. They just cause havoc.”
Another witness said there were “lots of police in attendance”.
The man, who asked to remain anonymous, added that officers were knocking on doors but few people appeared to be coming out.
Speaking earlier today (May 9), a spokesman for North Somerset Council said: “A group of travellers have pitched up on the Beach Lawns.
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“There are around nine caravans and associated vehicles.
“Our housing team is carrying out welfare checks.
“We understand this is the same group that was evicted from Locking playing fields.”
