Travellers arrive and race around field at Hilsea Portsmouth Rugby Club

The group of travellers arrived at Portsmouth RFC’s playing field, off Norway Road, shortly after midday.

Cars have been seen tearing up around the field while loud music has also been reported playing from the caravans.

It’s understood the group accessed the site after a gate was left open while the grounds were being tended to.

The illegal campers have outraged residents living nearby.

One woman, who The News is not naming, said: ‘They’ve been out driving their cars all over the field. It’s like they’re joyriding. It’s disgraceful.

‘And they’ve been playing loud, obnoxious music all day long. They really don’t care.’

Another resident was walking on the field with his son when the travellers arrived.

The 43-year-old, of Hilsea, said: ‘There were just a few of them at first but then more flooded in.

‘I didn’t want to walk my son on the field because I could hear the travellers swearing.’

The arrival comes after some travellers came to Wickham in hope of seeing the town’s annual horse fair, which was this year cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis.

About 25 caravans parked up overnight close to the town but were disappointed to find a heavy police presence in the area, reportedly stopping travellers from trading their horses.

The organisers of the annual fair confirmed it would not take place this year to help contain the outbreak of Covid-19.

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