Residents have been left in anguish after a group of travellers were accused of "taking over" a seaside town.
Multiple caravans arrived on the seafront in Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset two weeks ago and have since camped out in the area.
Locals say it has caused "significant anxiety" and "issues" for local residents.
The travellers have set up camp in a well-known site on the coastal resort, where 15 vehicles have been parked on the lawns on the South Esplanade near the Sailing Club.
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|Locals used to be able to walk their dogs on the greenbelt but it has since been taken over by caravans
An additional 10 caravans and vehicles arrived on the greens at Priory Gardens.
Locals and tourists said there has been fighting, littering, and dirty nappies thrown into the sea.
Resident in the area of 60 years, Cheryl Boley, said since the travellers moved in, she has seen fridges, tyres and faces dumped along the seaside town.
Boley said: "We are fuming every time this happens. It goes on three or four times every year. But what can you do? Weston-super-Mare has put in bollards to stop it, but that's so expensive."
The local resident stated: "We've heard they threw nappies over into the sea - we didn't see it ourselves, but with what gets left behind sometimes, it wouldn't be surprising.
"It makes my blood boil. We live by the law. We have a caravan - if we parked it here, we'd be kicked out immediately."
A retiree who sails opposite the camp discussed the damage caused in the area with the infighting among the travellers.
He said: "I gather the family's had a fight. There's a car with its whole windscreen smashed up, and they've parked another car to block it from being towed away. Everyone's been watching it from the local pub."
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|Local MP Ashley Fox said the response from the council has been 'very slow'
Pat Baldock, a retiree who walks in the area each morning, added: "They come every year, but not usually for as long as this. I don't mind if they come for a night or two if they pay for parking on the roads - but it's illegal what they're doing here.
"I'm not angry with them as people. But I'm angry when they stay here and they tear up the gardens."
Locals say that a total of nine caravans remain parked on the green space, but some vans have left and come since July 13.
The delay in moving the travellers on has been described as "slow" by local MP Ashley Fox.
Fox added: "I'm extremely concerned by Somerset Council's slow response to yet unauthorised traveller encampment in Burnham-On-Sea.
"The group arrived on July 13, yet I learned the Council won't even go before a judge to start the eviction process until July 25. That's 12 days of delay, and it's simply not acceptable.
"'People in Burnham are rightly frustrated. These incidents keep happening, and too often, the response from the council is far too slow. Our local traders rely on the summer season to make a living, and they deserve better than this."