ANGRY villagers formed a human barricade in a dramatic bid to prevent a convoy of travellers setting up camp on their playing field.

Plucky councillors lay down in front of travellers’ vehicles as they tried to get on to the field at Weeley on Monday night.

The astonishing show of people power unfolded as a parish council meeting was due to start.

County councillor Andy Erskine was in the car park when he saw the convoy arriving.

He rushed inside the meeting to raise the alarm.

“They laughed, thinking it was a joke, but then I said I was being serious and they ran out,” said Mr Erskine.

“There were members of the parish and Tendring Council laid on the ground in front of the vehicles.”

One truck and caravan were already on the field.

Parish councillors tried to persuade the travellers to leave and called the police.

Mr Erskine described the atmosphere as “very edgy”.

He added: “Most of the parish councillors are retired ladies.

“I was really worried about their safety.”

District councillor Mike Brown was laid in front of one of the travellers cars for 20 minutes as the stand-off continued.

He said: “There was already a caravan and a truck on the field and a car and another caravan trying to get through the gate.

“Two of us stood in front of the car. It was pushing us, so I laid down on the floor. I thought they will have to damage me to get in.

“The ladies went in front of the other car and there was stalemate for 40 minutes until the police turned up.”

Police persuaded the travellers to leave the site.

Local landowners were alerted and a farmer barricaded the playing field with heavy machinery to prevent them returning.

Clacton and Frinton Gazette:

  • STAND-OFF: Councillors block the entrance to the playing field.

Parish councillor Anita Bailey also joined the human shield.

“A couple of parish ladies stood in front of the car to stop it from moving,” she said.

“Our chairman Peter Dumsday laid down in front of a Transit van and I sat down in front of the car with other parish councillors.

“I called the police and told them they needed to get here urgently

“The situation started to get very lively. I was worried people were going to get hurt, so I phoned the police again and in a few minutes they arrived."