HUNDREDS of children have been left disappointed after fears of a new traveller invasion led to the cancellation of a weekend of sport.

Corfe Mullen Parish Council made the decision to call off all activities on the recreation ground after travellers were spotted in the area.

But the move has left 350 members of the village’s youth team upset after a day of activities planned for National Football Day were called off.

Club secretary Mike Dobson said he was told to cancel the event at the 11th hour.

“There are a lot of unhappy parents out there today,” he said.

“We understand why the decision has been made, but it’s left us with very short notice. We were told this morning (Friday) and we’d planned a day of activities for tomorrow (Saturday), so it’s tough.”

The club will lose around £600 from this weekend alone.

Dorset FA were also planning to hold trials on Sunday at the ground.

Parish councillor Susanne Parkin said: “We have had to live with the Dorset Steam Fair for many, many years – it’s ridiculous to close the ground.”

But parish council chair Paul Holland said: “There is still pedestrian access to the rec itself. This as a precaution.”

It is thought the ground may be closed until after the Dorset Steam Fair is finished.

A temporary camp in North Dorset has been opened to give the community somewhere to legally go.

Around 15 travellers’ caravans have moved onto a children’s play area in the south west corner of Turbary Common yesterday.

At some point between 10am and 2pm the group gained entry through a gate in Canford Avenue.

Neighbours said the gate was protected by a heavy rock – which had been rolled aside – but that the gate itself was unlocked.

One long-term resident of the area, Kath Myland, 65, said: “I don’t know why the council couldn’t have locked the gate; the common itself is very well secured.”

The group moved to the common from Haskells Rec, where the council was set to begin a clean-up operation yesterday.

This morning Eric Pickles has reissued advice to councils about what their powers are in the face of illegal encampments, but has been accused of delcaring "open season" on ethnic minorities. Read more about that here.

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