Furious town councillors in Petersfield want to take direct DIY action against travellers who continually invade their land.

Their self-help plan has been prompted by the chaos caused by travellers earlier this month when they clashed with police on town-council owned land at Penns Farm.

Facing ever increasing clean-up and legal costs, some councillors now want to take the matter into their own hands and build vital defences against illegal encampments themselves.

All members of the councilÕs grounds committee agreed that land at Penns Farm needed protecting with bollards to stop travellers setting up camp.

And with labour costs far outweighing the cost of materials, Chris Jenner suggested: ÒThis is the sort of thing we could do as a self-help thing amongst ourselves.Ó

And council newcomer Aaron Baird was all in favour of councillors getting their hands dirty. ÒIt could be team building,Ó he said.

Chairman of the grounds committee, Brian Dutton, issued a grave warning at the meeting last week following the recent traveller invasion at Penns Farm.

ÒI do not think we can continue to allow travellers access,Ó he said. ÒWe must, must do something.Ó

The town council now wants to put in nearly 150 bollards around the site to stop more travellers gaining access.

Earlier this month travellers on town council-owned land at Penns Farm clashed with police and caused havoc at two major events on the site.

More than 20 police officers were called to the site when trouble broke out and organisers of the townÕs prestigious dog show, and the Town JuniorsÕ six-a-side football tournament faced intimidating behaviour.

Organisers of both events saw their costs rocket as private security firms had to be brought in to ensure the safety of participants and spectators.

Iain Robinson, chairman of Petersfield Town Juniors, said that some children had been left in tears because of bullying.

He said: ÒThe travellers were abusive and intimidating.Ó

He added that the cost of staging the tournament had quadrupled due to the travellers.

Dave Banks, chief steward of the dog show told The Herald last week that it

was the third year running that travellers had caused problems for organisers and added that the future of the event was now in doubt.

He said that along with hiring security guards, stewards also had to clear human excrement from the site before the show could go ahead.

Kennel Club officials attending the event described the scenes as Òtruly unbelievableÓ, and the future of the show has been thrown into jeopardy.

In a letter to the town council, show secretary, Penny Banks, said that the event generates a huge amount of revenue for businesses in the area.

But she added that following this yearÕs scenes the committee were now looking at alternative venues for the 2004 show.

Mrs Banks said travellers had caused problems all day and the police had been called on several occasions.

She said: ÒMy husband and I were the last to leave the venue, and were chased off by two cars each carrying four travellers. Rather than driving home, we circled Petersfield, having phoned 999 on our mobile phone.Ó

The clean-up and legal costs of the latest invasion are not yet known but are likely to run into thousands of pounds.

The situation mirrors the invasion of The Heath almost one year ago to the week, when travellers left behind deadly asbestos, as well as rubbish and human excrement.

Clean-up staff spent days working on The Heath and described the case as one of the worst sites they had ever dealt with.

Mrs Mary Vincent said the new measures would pay for themselves and added the neighbouring community could also be invited to join councillors in building defences.

Julie Butler said that other sites in the town also needed protection.

The committee have now asked for quotes to be obtained for the bollards at Penns Farm and have urged all members to walk town council-owned property to identify any vulnerable land.