Travellers and gipsies have returned to a park which saw several evictions last summer.

Residents near Wild Park, off Lewes Road in Brighton, say they are horrified to see the new caravans back on the land.

They said around 14 have been camped on the council-owned land for several weeks and instead of being moved on their way, were joined by 10 more today.

Terry Marchant, of Goodwood Way, said his nine-year-old son Joe could not even play football without being harrassed by the temporary neighbours.

He said the police had to supervise his weekly match in the park because vans kept driving up and down by the pitch and it was feared one of the young players could be knocked down.

He also said he feared the vans would not have moved on by next Saturday, when the annual fun day is due to take place in the park.

Mr Marchant said: "It is getting out of hand.

"They are intimidating and scare our kids. We don't dare say anything because we don't want to cause a fight.

"I can't believe they are still there - they would have normally been moved on by now.

"I know what is going to happen next - the fun day, which the kids really look forward to, will be cancelled."

Illegal camps were a major source of tension in Brighton and Hove last year with residents blaming travellers for despoiling parks and depriving communities of the right to enjoy public land.

Some were accused of leaving human excrement, nappies, underwear and rubbish when they moved on and Brighton and Hove City Council spent £10,000 in the year securing eviction orders.