TROUBLE flared again as travellers defied the authorities and set up camp in the same area for the third time in a month.

Two men were arrested for threatening to damage property after security guards tried to stop a group of six caravans entering the DEFRA offices car park in Electra Way, Crewe. It is the third time the group has squatted on land around Crewe Gates Farm Industrial Estate since the beginning of May. They were moved on from the Gateway on Bank Holiday Monday, only to turn up on nearby Electra Way the next morning.

Mark Viggers, operations supervisor for Total Security, claimed his men had been threatened as they tried to stop the travellers pitching camp at around 5.30pm on Monday.

He said: 'Officers were trying to stop them getting on to the car park. There was an altercation and threats were made, which resulted in two of the travellers being arrested.

A DEFRA employee, who did not wish to be named, said: 'They seem to come this way every now and again and it just causes trouble. There is not a lot elseto sayreallyexceptthat no-one wants them here.'

Crewe Gates Farm Industrial Estate and the neighbouring Weston Road and Crewe Business Park estates are home to several big name companies who arestepping upsecurityfollowing the arrival of the unwelcome visitors.

Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council, which is responsible for security along ElectraWay, hasmadeabig show of promoting the area as part of its plans to turn Crewe's South East Quadrant into a major commercial centre.

Steve Brown, whose East Cheshire Security firm patrols several nearby car dealerships, said it was about time something was done to solve the problem.

He said: 'My lads are going to be back doing 18-hour shifts again and it's wearing them out.

'It is costing my clients a fortune, and it is doing nothing for the image of the area.

'To me it just seems that the council are wasting taxpayers' money at the moment because they don't seem to want to take steps to make sure the travellers cannot get on at all.'

Council director of legal services, Riddell Graham said the authority was addressing the problem by every available means.

He said: 'We are aware there are a number of travellers at Electra Way. If the land is owned by the borough council, they will be asked to leave because the land is intended for industrial and commercial uses.

'If necessary, legal action in the county courts will follow.'