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Gypsies arriving for the Appleby Horse Fair clash with locals by pitching up at a rugby club after a farmer sprayed their usual camping spot with COW MANURE

Travellers from across the UK began to return to the Appleby Horse Fair today, bringing a tense stand-off with locals in a neighbouring market town. 

Visitors from the Gypsy, Roma and Travelling community begin to arrive for the 250 year-old event in Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, today after the fair was cancelled last year due to Covid-19.    

But when one of their established overnight camps was sprayed with cow manure and sectioned off with boulders, travellers decided to set up camp at the nearby Upper Eden Rugby Club - prompting a confrontation with club management.  

Locals claimed threats were made against them as travellers blocked the road during a 'stand-off.' 

Members of the  Gypsy, Roma and Travelling (GRT) community begin to arrive for the Appleby Horse Fair in Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria

Members of the  Gypsy, Roma and Travelling community begin to arrive for the Appleby Horse Fair in Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria

Travellers decided to set up camp at the nearby Upper Eden Rugby Club when one of their established overnight camps was sprayed with cow manure and sectioned off with boulders

Travellers decided to set up camp at the nearby Upper Eden Rugby Club when one of their established overnight camps was sprayed with cow manure and sectioned off with boulders

They also said there were left furious when police told them they could not close the gate to prevent more travellers coming through - in case those already trespassing on the site needed to leave in an emergency.   

The gypsies said they were being victimised and forced off the site for no reason, questioning why the remote spot where they had planned to stay had been covered in manure.

A rugby club stalwart, who asked not to be named, issued a statement on the club's social media channels.

He said: 'Yesterday afternoon at 14.30 I was contacted by the COVID testing personnel to inform me that we had some travellers pitch up at the rugby club.

'I immediately attended the Club and requested support from other club members .... there were 2 police officers on site.

'The COVID testing personnel departed the site and we closed and padlocked the gate, at this point we were confronted by a large number of travellers and a stand off ensued.

'There was a large number of vehicles and caravans blocking the road.

'We requested that the travellers on the Club car park be removed and sent on their way, the police informed us that this was a Civil matter and they had no powers to move the travellers on.

'We were told that we would have to apply for a Court order to remove the travellers. We were also advised not to lock the gate as those travellers on the club premises may need to be out in an emergency or similar situation.

'The travellers gave us their word that they would leave the club today, I can confirm that they offered us money to stay.

'This was refused and we have not received any monies. The police reassured us that they would be performing regular visits to the Club to monitor the situation.

'We held our monthly Exec Meeting last night at the Club and there was a large Police presence, The Police have issued the Travellers with a Dispersal order which means that they have to leave the Club today or they will have their vehicle seized and be removed.

'To say that we are not happy with the situation is an understatement as we are a Community Club and we do value our neighbours, residents and businesses of Kirkby Stephen.'

One local said: 'It was a frightening and intimidating situation to have a camp suddenly set up right in the middle of the community.

'And to make it worse the rugby club was told it couldn't lock the gate in case any of them wanted to leave. It's madness.'

Some pubs and businesses in the town chose to close their doors until after the horse fair is over.

But one traveller, Pauline Foster, who was a part of the group, said they 'were doing no harm' and the only reason they had pitched up at the rugby club was because the site they had stayed at for years was soiled with cow manure.  

Pauline Foster (pictured) said she and the other travellers 'were doing no harm' and had pitched up at the rugby club because their established site had been sprayed with cow manure

Pauline Foster said she and the other travellers 'were doing no harm' and had pitched up at the rugby club because their established site had been sprayed with cow manure

Members of the traveller community said they were being victimised and forced off the site for no reason. Pictured: Visitors from the Gypsy, Roma and Travelling (GRT) community at the nearby Upper Eden Rugby Club

Members of the traveller community said they were being victimised and forced off the site for no reason. Pictured: Visitors from the Gypsy, Roma and Travelling community at the nearby Upper Eden Rugby Club

Travellers began to arrive in Kirkby Stephen at the weekend ahead of the fair, which attracts around 10,000 gypsies and 30,000 visitors

Travellers began to arrive in Kirkby Stephen at the weekend ahead of the fair, which attracts around 10,000 gypsies and 30,000 visitors

The 69-year-old said: 'There were four or five police vans called and we warned we'd be kicked off double quick.

'They took pictures of all our caravans and vehicles and said if we didn't move we'd be charged and if we didn't pay it they's follow us to Appleby to get it from us.

'We were doing no harm at all. The fair begins on Thursday so we'd quickly have moved on into Appleby.

'The only reason that we came here is because the site we've stayed at for years and years was soiled with cow manure and sectioned off with boulders by some farmer.

'It's outside the village of Nateby in the middle of nowhere and the travelling people do no harm there.

'The discrimination and harassment we suffer is getting worse and if this was any other race or culture there would be an outcry, but because it's our community people let it happen.'

Police were there to make sure the travellers moved on without any further disruption by 3pm today as the eviction notice demanded.

One officer told Mailonline: 'They're moving without incident and we've found them somewhere else to stay.'

Although Appleby itself remained quiet, an influx of travellers arrived in Kirkby Stephen at the weekend ahead of the fair, which attracts around 10,000 gypsies and 30,000 visitors.

Police arrive to the scene at Upper Eden Rugby Club after locals clash with members of the traveller community

Police arrive to the scene at Upper Eden Rugby Club after locals clash with members of the traveller community

Scores of caravans and mobile homes were parked on roadsides leading into the town and horses were tethered to graze on verges as lorries rumbled by inches away on the main road between the A66 trans-Pennine route and the M6 motorway.

Long lines of traffic snaked off into the distance as youngsters driving carriages pulled by ponies raced up and down the A685.

A local businessman said: 'It feels as though we've had one year of peace before it all starts again with a vengeance.

'While Appleby gets all the visitors and the income that brings, we get nothing but disruption and so many problems that some businesses choose to close down.' 

The travellers denied anyone had been intimidating.  

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