A council is to spend £100,000 to step up security against Travellers.

Crawley Borough Council has been inundated with complaints from residents and businesses about the number of unauthorised camp sites at various locations around the town.

Height restriction barriers have now been installed at Broadfield Stadium and Bewbush Leisure Centre in a bid to keep travellers out and work is under way at Crawley Leisure Centre.

Extra security will also soon be installed in the grounds of The Hawth Theatre, Tilgate Golf Centre and Tilgate Park.

Travellers have been targeting the town over the last six months, leaving the council with large clear-up bills.

It has also had to go to court to get magistrates' orders to force the travellers to leave, which added to its costs.

Residents complained about the amount of rubbish generated at the sites and the number of times they were approached by travellers in the town centre asking for money.

Many said they were intimidated by the groups and preferred to stay away from where they were based to avoid confrontations.

The council installed temporary concrete barriers over all leisure facilities earlier this year but these are now slowly being replaced with new, more sophisticated barriers.

Coun Jim Smith, executive member for leisure and cultural services at the council, said he was pleased the work was being carried out so the ugly concrete blocks could be removed.

He said: "But it is scandalous that we are having to spend this amount of money to keep out people who give nothing to the town.

"I would much rather spend that money on improving leisure facilities for the benefit of local people instead."

Residents today welcomed the move but said other areas also had to be protected.

John Evans, of Chaucer Road, Pound Hill, said: "It is all very well stopping these groups from going to the centres but the council should also be looking at its playing fields and recreation grounds.

"If the travellers can't get on to their usual favourite sites then they are going to start moving on to these types of locations instead. "

A police spokesman said: "A lot of travellers cause no problems and keep themselves to themselves but unfortunately there are other groups who are more likely to get into confrontational situations and these are the ones people remember."