Mass arrests after gipsy camp brawl

Nineteen people were arrested after reports of a huge brawl at a Mid Wales gipsy site. Dozens of police officers attended after "violent disorder" broke out.

Neighbours reported seeing a gang of men pile out of several vehicles and run on to the site at Withy Beds, on the outskirts of Welshpool, at about 2pm yesterday.

Dyfed-Powys Police said 19 travellers from Welshpool and Oxfordshire were arrested for violent disorder and officers remained at the scene overnight, but had left by 8.30am today.

Antony Topazio, force spokesman, said: "Nineteen people have been arrested in the Welshpool area following a disturbance at the Withy Beds gipsy site, near Forden.

"Police attended the scene and the situation has now been resolved, but officers remained at the site overnight to keep the situation calm."

One resident of Forden, who declined to be named, said: "I heard the police helicopter hovering over the area yesterday and thought something must be going on.

"Later, I spoke to a friend who lives close to where it happened and he said a load of men arrived and ran on to the site looking for trouble.

"He said they were brawling until a large number of police officers arrived and they were all taken away.

"I don't think anybody was seriously injured, but he said an ambulance was there."

Four vehicles have been recovered from the site.

Lee Evans, Powys County Council spokesman, said: "We are aware of the incident and are working closely with the police and the travelling community. However, we cannot comment further until investigations have been completed."