A COMMUNITY is today seeking legal advice after a large group of travellers set up camp on their village playing field, ploughing up huge ruts into a football pitch.

A COMMUNITY is today seeking legal advice after a large group of travellers set up camp on their village playing field, ploughing up huge ruts into a football pitch.

About 16 and 18 families, with four horses and several dogs, are currently staying at Capel St Mary, near Ipswich.

It is understood the group is on its way to a horse fair and has had to stop so that one of its members can give birth and another can receive dental treatment.

Stuart Harris, chairman of Capel St Mary parish council, said: “They have ploughed several large ruts into the senior football pitch. Local residents are upset and clearly concerned that police are unable to immediately evict them.”

Mr Harris said the Capel St Mary Community Trust - which owns the land the travellers are on - is now seeking legal advice to find out the best course of action.

“We are concerned about the damage because it will cost thousands of pounds to rectify,” he said. “There are also public health issues - dog, horse and human effluence will require professional help to make the area safe to use again.”

A spokesman for Suffolk police said they were aware that travellers had moved to the playing field but it was a matter to be resolved by the landowners.

“We are unable to do anything until they have handed us a written notice asking for their removal.”

n. How have you been affected by the travellers? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk