Residents living in a small town are incensed after a group of travellers left behind a ‘war zone’ at an illegal site from which they were evicted last year.
Pictures show litter, dirty nappies, filthy mattresses and even an out-of-use caravan abandoned at the camp near the A44 in Leominster, Herefordshire.
The travellers moved out months ago after the council issued a legal order under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 following a heap of complaints from disgruntled residents.
But those living locally are now demanding a greater crackdown on groups pitching up on illegal sites, saying those responsible for the mess in Leominster have caused ‘real problems’ in the area.
Dan Jones, the photographer who took the pictures, said: ‘We have lots of travellers in this part of the world and most are generally very well behaved and cause no bother.
‘However, this particular group have caused real problems. I was shocked when I saw the state of the site they had camped on.
‘It was literally covered in piles and piles of rubbish and old and burnt-out vehicles. It was disgusting.
‘I believe they got kicked off the land but then moved down to another plot down the road. It’s a massive problem.’
Residents living in Leominster, Herefordshire, are incensed after travellers left behind a ‘war zone’ at an illegal site they set up camp at last year
Pictures show litter, dirty nappies, filthy mattresses and even an out-of-use caravan abandoned at the camp
The travellers were ordered to move out last year after the council issued a legal order under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 following a heap of complaints from disgruntled residents
Another resident, who preferred to remain anonymous, described the travellers as ‘common criminals’.
They said: ‘No one in power is doing anything to protect the law-abiding people who live in towns around here.
‘These people claim to be living a nomadic lifestyle which is part of their culture but it’s rubbish, they’re nothing more than common criminals.
‘How can anyone in their right mind think it’s ok to leave anywhere in such a foul way?
‘They moved onto the land illegally, left it looking like a war zone and taxpayers will foot the bill. How on earth is that right?’
The illegal camp became so notorious in 2025 that social media users even made it a ‘tourist attraction’ on Google.
Called ‘The Backyard campsite’, it attracted a two-star rating and was described as a ‘cultural black hole’ by one unimpressed reviewer.
Pictures appear to show that something may have been burned at the site near the A44 and A49 roundabout
A dirt tracks weaves in between two huge piles of rubbish abandoned at the camp
Residents are now calling for the council to crackdown on travellers pitching up on illegal sites
Located on council-owned land close to the A44 and A49 roundabout, the site also became the subject of legal action last year.
At the time, a spokesperson said that the travellers’ failure to follow the earlier mentioned order could have led to court proceedings. The council said it had ‘exhausted the steps available to manage the encampment.’
Once the group finally left, officers from the council’s Gypsy and Traveller Team and Environmental Health swooped in to see whether the area could ever work as a long-term stopping point.
But the idea was quickly binned. According to the council, earlier proposals were rejected due to ‘allegations of antisocial or disruptive behaviour’ and concerns about the ‘safety and sustainability of the plot.’
The authority admitted last year that ‘any waste left behind on the land would ultimately have to be removed by the council directly’, as it falls to them to restore the wrecked site.
Herefordshire Council has been approached for an update and further comment.