West Overton farmer Michael Maude was forced to call the police on Saturday when visitors began invading his property looking for the latest crop circle.

Officers attended Manor Farm and spoke to some people but no one was arrested.

But for Mr Maude it was another example of what farmers have to put up with just as they prepare to bring in the harvest.

He said: “The crop circle was actually on my neighbour’s land. I was somewhat surprised that they wanted to get to it across my land as there is a bridleway across the field where the crop circle is.

“This involved breaking through the boundary between his field and mine. I have yet to assess the extent of the damage. They also blocked the road with their vehicles.

“This has become a constant problem. Someone who is camping on my land, with permission, told me that parachute flares had been sent up. This was probably to give the circle makers enough light to see by. But there are already reports on websites about mysterious lights in the sky.”

Recently crop circle investigator Michael Glickman wrote to farmers in the area suggesting they put out honesty boxes so that they could benefit from the appearance of crop circles on their land.

But Mr Maude said: “I just want to be left in peace to get on with my business. As reported in your paper, Tim Carson had the honesty box on his land vandalised and the money stolen, so I don’t think much of that suggestion.

“What annoyed me is that the people I spoke to refused to leave. That was why I called the police. They had been directed there by the tourist office in Devizes and had their headed notepaper with them.”

A spokesman for Wiltshire Council, which now runs tourist information offices throughout the county, said: “When people approach them about crop circles, our tourist information officers give them information from the Crop Circle Connector website together with a copy of Crop Circle Etiquette, produced by the Silent Circle Cafe.”

Acting inspector Andy Peach said: “A lot of farmers are getting fed up with the number of visitors they get and they are cutting out the formation before people start coming along.

“The ironic thing is the people who make the crop circles do a lot less damage than those who come along to visit them.”

The crop circle at West Overton is the fifth to be reported in the county so far this month.