TRAVELLERS left a trail of havoc in Trowbridge. More than eight caravans and four wheel drive vehicles pulled into the former TA Centre in Bythesea Road at the beginning of October.

Families stayed for four days and when they left it was discovered that windows in the former centre had been smashed. Doors had also been broken down.

The damage left behind has upset the former caretaker Chris Deadman and his wife Daphne. The couple had lived on the site for 21 years.

"The building looks like a bomb has hit it, it is wrecked. How they could do it is beyond me, the centre holds lots of memories for our family and this is very upsetting, it's devastating," said Mrs Deadman.

The TA Centre had been home to the couple's six children and is now a shadow of its former self. The Deadmans moved out in February.

The building has been empty since the Forward Air Control troop of the 21 Signal Regiment moved to Bath in August 1999. Mr and Mrs Deadman reported the damage to the current managers, the Ministry of Defence Estates South West.

An eviction notice was posted at the TA Centre on October 2 and the travellers were given 48 hours to leave.

"When they left last week they then moved onto the former Wincanton site and did the same there," said Mrs Deadman, saying windows had been smashed within 24 hours. "It is terrible, I cannot believe such damage has been done. How they could do such a thing is beyond me," she said.

By Wednesday (October 11) the travellers had gone.