GYPSIES sparked outrage on Thursday as they set up camp on Bisley village green.  

More than a dozen police cars were deployed to the site after furious councillors and residents raised concerns about their new neighbours, who parked up with military precision at around midday.

The situation cuts a very different scene to that of five days earlier when the open space was filled with laughter and smiles of the annual Strawberry Fayre.

Cllr David Mansfield, who was watching the situation unfold, said: “I got home and had around 10 messages on my answer machine saying Bisley is being invaded.

“When I got here there were three caravans but then it just grew, they were coming through the trees and round the side of the scout hut - it seemed to be a very well planned operation.”

Officers were stationed at the site and were liaising with caravan owners throughout the afternoon.

But Cllr Mansfield was after more immediate action.

He added: “There seems to be a reluctance to move people on. I expect people’s hands are tied but it’s this bureaucratic nonsense that we seem to live in that travellers have the opportunity to stay.

“It’s also the cost. I accept that people have got to go somewhere but this sort of situation should not be something the village has to put up with.

“We’ve had 14 police cars out, we’ve had the dogs team out and these are resources taken away from other parts of the county and will have a reflection on budgets. It’s an absolute disgrace."

It is believed the travellers are on their way to a gathering in Langley.

Cllr Mansfield explained: "We're discussing things at the moment and we're trying to rectify the situation for both parties.

"I've spoken to a couple of the travellers and it appears that this all seems to be about a Christian community meeting they are going to."

The group eventually left the site at around 5.30pm the same day.