Travellers have moved onto Booker Common in High Wycombe.

The encampment was first reported at the end of last week, with one local resident telling a Bucks Free Press reporter that a further dozen caravans came to the site overnight.

Groups of travellers were first seen Kingsmead Recreation Ground on July 6, before moving onto The Rye, Hughenden Park, a car park close to Bellfield Road, Desborough Recreation Ground and then in Hazlemere.

Wycombe District Councillor Brian Pearce said: "It makes me so angry that we as a society have to stick to all of these rules and regulations and the travellers come along and stick a middle finger up to us.

"The police do not have the man power to deal with them. They have to go through so much red tape because of the cuts and it is impacting upon us.

"I have been having phonecalls throuhgout the night. I do not know what people think I can do at 3.30 in the morning. In three hours I had 27 phonecalls. 

"It is so frustrating that we cannot do anything about it. It is utter madness that we can't get things sorted out. How long is this going to go on for?

"I think the lack of action from the Police is appaling. But they simply do not have the resources.

"I tried to get a meeting with the commander of the police across the local area but I may as well have tried to get a meeting with the Pope!"

Last week, Steve Baker MP called for more powers to be given to local authorities to move travellers on, saying that 'no one was above the law'.

Mr Baker said: “No one is above the law, and everyone should be treated equally before the law. I am in touch with the Home Secretary and will be telling her the Government needs to implement its proposals to give Local Authorities and the Police greater powers to stop this happening again.

“The Council will be facing huge clean-up costs, which will unfairly fall on law abiding taxpayers. The Council must look seriously at installing measures to prevent Travellers again using our parks and green spaces with impunity.”