Ref. 31106A CONVOY of 200 travellers was sent packing from Blunsdon because of fears about damage to a nearby covered reservoir.

Police were called after a fleet of around 15 caravans parked at the reservoir site at the A419 end of High Street at around 9.30am yesterday.

But seven hours later the group agreed to a request to move on from landowner Thames Water.

The travellers, many of whom deal in horses, had previously been living on a former football ground in Cirencester.

They are heading to the Royal Welsh Show, which takes place next month.

They were angry at being moved on so quickly. Steve Smith, 23, said: "We were told this land was up for sale and we saw the gates open so we came in. We only wanted to stay a couple of nights."

The group went off to look for another site.

Parish council chairman Stuart Boyd said: "People were concerned about litter and mess that might have been left behind."