French farmers have taken drastic action against travellers who were staying on their property by spraying manure on their land.
The farmers deployed liquid sludge across their fields to force out squatters who had established what they described as an unlawful encampment in Hautes-Vosges, France.
The landowners resorted to the extreme measure after allegedly receiving no assistance from law enforcement to address the situation.
Multiple agricultural vehicles participated in the operation, systematically distributing the foul-smelling mixture of excrement and water across the area where the travellers had settled.
Half a dozen tractors encircled the stationary pale-coloured caravans, discharging torrents of the sludge across the site.
Video footage showed the farmers methodically distributing the manure whilst residents of the encampment scrambled to intervene.
The travellers could be seen pursuing the vehicles in desperate attempts to prevent the spraying of waste material.
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|Farmers were seen in tractors below the travellers in white vans
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|French farmers spraying manure
The farmers' response involved multiple tractors working in coordination to ensure comprehensive coverage of their farm.
The confrontation escalated as community members tried unsuccessfully to shield their temporary dwellings from the onslaught of manure.
During the confrontation, one individual took extraordinary measures by leaping onto a moving tractor and pounding on the operator's cabin window.
The minute-long recording documented the farmers' determination to reclaim their property through this unconventional method.
The farmers expressed frustration at what they perceived as abandonment by authorities who had allegedly failed to address their complaints about the unauthorised settlement.
Their decision to employ farm equipment for spreading the manure represented a last resort after other channels had apparently proved ineffective.
The incident underscores the challenges faced by farmers when confronting unauthorised encampments without any support.
It bears striking resemblance to events in Devon last year when British farmer Jack Bellamy employed identical tactics against a trespasser on his property.
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|A man trying to open the door to the tractor spraying manure
The 29-year-old beef and sheep farmer from Tavistock discovered an unauthorised camper at 6am and responded by unleashing a 15-second barrage of slurry from his tractor.
"I'll tell you what chap, have a bit of this," Bellamy declared whilst dousing the tent and bicycle with excrement.
The third-generation farmer later explained his frustration: "They come up from the towns and think they can do what they want."
Bellamy noted that two legitimate campsites existed merely half a mile from his field, suggesting the trespasser "just didn't want to pay."