A GROUP of travellers have moved onto land in Dawlish, writes Ellen Grindley.

Three caravans and three trucks arrived on the site behind the Dawlish Sainsbury’s store on Friday.

Residents living on the neighbouring Redrow Homes estate The Copse have complained that the travellers have been littering rubbish, breaking fences and lighting bonfires.

They have asked Teignbridge Council to act to remove the group but a spokesman for the authority explained that as the council does not own the land, it is not in a position to take action.

A spokesman for Sainsbury’s said: ‘We are aware of the situation but it is not our land.’

Matt Grayson, spokesman for Redrow Homes, said: ‘We’ve been made aware that a group of travellers has moved onto land near the Sainsbury’s opposite our Warren Grove at The Copse development in Dawlish.

‘We do not own this land, however, we’ve informed the local authorities.’

Residents have also reported chickens have been seen running around the site and trollies have been taken from Sainsbury’s.

One resident said: ‘It’s a nightmare, just hell.

‘I’m being kept awake at night by the humming noise from their generators.

‘I popped into Sainsbury’s and there was a woman coming out wearing pyjama bottoms, everyone was staring, you can’t believe how they behave.’

She also said shuttle buses used to take shoppers to Sainsbury’s which used to park next to the site have been unable to get there.

And delivery lorries are having to park on double yellow lines.

Another, unnamed resident said: ‘They have been using the field as a toilet.

‘They have trashed the area and left junk on the road.

‘I’ve reported it to the council.

‘I’ve heard they were pinching trollies from Sainsbury’s.’