A leafy Surrey village has become the latest to fall victim to a traveller invasion after a cascade of caravans rolled in over the Easter weekend.
Alford - home to just over 1,000 residents - saw "all hell" break lose after a group of travellers took over a field in what has been described as a "land grab".
It follows similar events unfolding in Kent and Hertfordshire over the bank holiday weekend.
The travelling communities involved are said to have moved in believing council officials would be slow to react during Easter.
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Alfold residents first became alarmed on April 1 after spotting unknown men measuring the width of the road.
Their fears came to fruition just 24 hours later when up to 40 lorries armed with building supplies arrived to construct a 17-plot "gated community" on the rural field.
Over the weekend, 21 caravans and five static homes have set up shop on the rural site.
Concerned locals had called the police - only to be told it was a matter for Waverley Borough Council to deal with.
Alfold local Peter Foy, 52, told the Daily Mail the community felt "betrayed and let down" by the local authority.
Alfold - home to just over 1,000 residents - saw 'all hell' break lose after a group of travellers took over a field
|WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
He said: "At roughly 4pm on Thursday afternoon, all hell descended upon us.
"They've erected a huge fence around it - they've made a gated community, with great big steel doors on it.
"There was caravan after caravan after caravan and huge lorries with the static mobile homes on as well.
"They've now concreted over God knows what from late Thursday. If the council could do the potholes in as much time, we'd be loving it.
The 52-year-old added: 'It's impressive, but it's horrendous at the same time. Everyone is incredibly angry."
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Over the weekend, 21 caravans and five static homes have set up shop on the rural site (file pic)
|GETTY
A fundraiser has been launched to help fund CCTV and additional locks for members of the community - who have been brought together by the emergence of the new site, Mr Foy said.
The campaign has already raised more than £5,000.
Despite Waverley Borough Council issuing two "stop notices", the traveller group have continued construction.
A spokesman for Surrey Police said: "We are aware of a large number of vehicles and people on a site on Loxwood Road in Alford.
"We have visited the area along with Waverley Borough Council to engage with those at the site, as well as local residents.
"No criminal offences have been identified by police.
Mr Foy said the community had felt 'betrayed and let down' by the local authority
| WAVERLEY BOROUGH COUNCIL"The development of the site is a planning permission issue, which is being led by Waverley Borough Council."
Meanwhile, the local authority said: "Council officers visited the site on Thursday evening and again on Friday.
"We are aware that further works were carried out over the weekend.
"Stop Notices were served on Thursday and again on Friday; however, these appear not to have been complied with.
"The council is pursuing all appropriate legal options to secure the reversal of any unauthorised development, and to prevent any further planning breaches."
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