Travellers on Shropshire beauty spot

Travellers have set up camp on a north Shropshire beauty spot after getting in through gates which had been vandalised, it was claimed today.

More than 40 caravans arrived at Prees Heath Common near Whitchurch on Sunday, which is owned by Butterfly Conservation.

Councillors today called for action to be taken to remove them.

At Shrewsbury Magistrates' Court yesterday Antony Barnett, 71, of The Grove, Hodnet, was found guilty of causing criminal damage at the site on August 9 last year and ordered to pay £4,500 compensation.

The court heard a digger was driven on to the nature reserve and used to tear down the gates.

Stephen Lewis, reserve warden and member of the Butterfly Conversation, said: "On Sunday lunchtime at least 40 caravans gained illegal access on to Prees Heath Common Reserve, at the point where one of the kissing gates damaged was located.

"They are still there and Butterfly Conservation is discussing with the police the best way to resolve the situation."

He said the reasons the conservationists installed the gates was to stop illegal access to it.

"The gates will now be put back in place," he said.

Gerald Dakin, Shropshire Council member for Whitchurch South, said: "If it's the case that the gipsies gained access because of an act of vandalism some time ago then that is terrible.

"Butterfly Conservation has been working so hard down there to get the heath back to its natural state."

Richard Ewels, spokesman for West Mercia Police, said they were monitoring the situation.

"It is down to the private land owner to take necessary steps to remove them."