A RESIDENT says she has been made a prisoner in her own home by travellers staying on nearby playing fields.

The travellers moved on to playing fields near the Grampian Country Foods factory in Wharton last Sunday.

One concerned resident contacted the Chronicle to vent her frustration. Pamela Jones, of Upton Close, Winsford, lives yards from where the travellers have set up home.

She said: 'They have been making our lives a misery, and what's worse, they're stopping the local children playing on the fields.

'They're too scared to go anywhere near the travellers, and it's just not fair. Why should we be made to feel like prisoners in our own homes?'

Ms Jones says the situation has deteriorated as more travellers have moved on to the site. She said: 'At first there were only one or two caravans, and the travellers were relatively quiet and peaceful. But now there are between 10 and 20 caravans, and they have become really aggressive.

'In the past few days it has been complete mayhem. At the weekend I woke up to find tyretracks through my garden after the travellers had ridden quad bikes right through it.

'It's getting out of hand when your private property is being invaded.'

Residents are demanding action that will ensure no-one else has to suffer what they've been through.

She said: 'We believe this is the same group that were on the Verdin Fields recently, and if it goes on like this the travellers will just keep going from site to site.

'The authorities need to come up with a way of accommodating the travellers so they don't set up home on people's doorsteps.'

Insp Brian Roberts, of Winsford's Neighbourhood Policing Unit, said: 'I urge people not to take things into their own hands, and any incidents should be reported to the police.'

Insp Mark Watson, who works with partner agencies to ensure the needs of people who live in shared communities are being met, says more permanent sites are needed.

He said: 'The lack of suitable sites for traveller families to live on and access, as they move around the country leads to groups setting up unauthorised encampments.

'In the meantime, the cycle of travellers being moved on by landowners, their agents and the police will continue.

'This involves a huge amount of work both legally and operationally. It's extremely time-consuming and expensive for all concerned and as long as there are not enough sites for people to go to, this will continue.'