Travellers have taken over a beloved cricket club as all events have been cancelled for the "foreseeable future".
Local police said they were informed of an unauthorised encampment at Dean Cross in Plymstock.
Plymouth City Council had issued a 24-hour notice to quit on site, which was due to expire at 4.30pm on Wednesday.
The local Cricket Club said it had to cancel all events at the club “for the foreseeable future", describing the decision as "heart-breaking".
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|Travellers have taken over a beloved cricket club as all events have been cancelled for the 'foreseeable future'
In a statement, Devon and Cornwall Police added: "We are aware of an unauthorised encampment at Dean Cross, Plymstock and are liaising with the council in relation to this.
"Officers have attended the site and engaged with the group."
Plymstock Cricket Club said: "It's absolutely heart-breaking as we have recently put a lot of effort into improving our pitch and facilities and this is going to be a massive step backwards.
"We have been in touch with the council and MP regarding this and hope that they can be moved on soon as this is a very active sports facility used by many in the community."
A council spokesperson said they know this is an area valued by residents
A council spokesperson said they know this is an area valued by residents.
Staff visited the site alongside police on Tuesday morning to begin the legal process of eviction.
It comes after a similar incident on the South Coast in Bournemouth, where a much-loved local parkrun was forced to cancel its scheduled race after volunteers discovered seven caravans had moved onto a grassroots 11-a-side football pitch overnight.
The People's Channel investigated how a corner of Bournemouth has been impacted after being told that a group of travellers had set up an "anti-social" enclave on the Jurassic Coast.
The local Cricket Club said it had to cancel all events at the club
One woman, who has lived on a road that backs onto the encampment for 30 years, said the appearance of travellers "seems to be an annual event".
She added: "It's a completely anti-social scenario. We just have to wait until they leave and then it's our job to clean up after them."
Locals have warned that the traveller encampment is turning parts of Bournemouth into a "no-go" zone.
One resident, whose garden backs onto the park, told the People's Channel: "I'm scared to go, I don't let my daughter walk through the park at night, and she's 19."