Travellers set up camp again

Police were also called to deal with complaints about youngsters causing trouble and dogs running wild.

This is the second time travellers have camped on Denton Island this year.

After the previous visit, in January, specialist cleaning contractors were called in to clear up squalid mountains of rubbish along with human and animal excrement.

More than 20 caravans filed on to the Lewes District Council-owned land on Thursday last week.

A spokeswoman for Vokins said some of its customers felt intimidated by the travellers. 'It's not doing our business any good and we are losing a lot of trade. The children are also causing a nuisance by running in and out of the shop.'

Rubbish was a major problem, said Grant Thomas from Expanded Polystyrene Supplies. 'When they leave the problem is the mess. There is rubbish lying all over the place. There has been talk about securing the site by digging a trench or putting in concrete bollards, but I doubt it would work with the type of equipment they have.'

A spokeswoman for Sussex Downs College said caravans were blocking vital parking spaces used by visitors to its training and business centre.

'The college regrets there is not an appropriate site provided for travellers but the area around the island does not have the facilities to support travellers and we have to consider the interests of our students, some of whom have disabilities and need to use the spaces in the car park,' she said.

Denton Island business people met district council chief executive John Crawford on Tuesday to express their concerns. Legal action was under way to remove the travellers, said a council spokeswoman, but she declined to say how long it would take.

She added: 'We are aware of the situation at Denton Island and are taking appropriate action'.