Back in Abingdon after a few days away, I was surprised to see five horses and a dozen or so caravans in Albert Park.

I walked around taking photographs of the horses. Two small dogs ran up barking, then ran off again. The lower gate appeared to have been forced open, and vans were coming and going. One driver waited for me to take a picture of the forced gate before driving through.

The grass was short and dry, and would not provide much food for the horses.

A PCSO was watching from a distance, and Christ’s Hospital, which manages the park, are aware of the situation and will deal with any problems in whatever way the law allows. The travellers could be moved on sooner rather than later if circumstances give them legal grounds to do so.

Two lads approached me while I was there and said they had no objection to travellers living this way provided they respected others and were peaceable. I asked if they were part of the group and they said ‘no’. Other locals in the park were less pleased, particularly as it is a school holiday and vehicles are driving over the paths and grass, and there could be contamination of the play area.