Just two weeks ago this was the scene not far from where I live. This week the snow has gone, the birds are back and so are over twenty caravans, cars, 4×4s, white vans and lots and lots of travellers. They broke through two gates and now have established a camp in the former industrial estate. Locals are on guard, and so too are the authorities. We await their next move.

The rubbish pile has started to grow and already the Community Wardens have scheduled daily visits to the site. Walking around the perimeter feels awkward, as if you are visiting the zoo. You try not to look through the gaps in the fence or wire but you just have to, to see what the ‘inmates’ are up to. Today, one came out and round the fence and then asked ‘”Does your dog bite?”.