Following the disgraceful traveller invasions of Calmore recreation ground in June, Conservatives are keeping up the pressure on everyone, from local police to the relevant Parliamentary Select Committee, to strengthen the law to prevent this sort of anti-social behaviour.

Cllr. Di Brooks, who is also local MP Julian Lewis's Caseworker, attended and spoke at a Joint Authorities Gypsy and Traveller Panel meeting at Winchester in July. This was also attended by MPs on the Select Committee enquiring into travellers.

Cllr Brooks said: "There is too much talk of travellers' human rights and not enough of the rights of local people whose amenities are being trashed and who have to meet the costs of legal action and clearing afterwards."

In a letter to the Daily Echo, Colin Smith of Totton Conservatives wrote: "So-called travellers who recently invaded Totton have surely exceeded even the worst type of previous disgraceful behaviour from such people by invading a children's play area.

It would be interesting to know how many visits income tax and VAT inspectors make to such unauthorised encampments to ensure the proper collection of tax arising from the business activities these people invariably carry on  whenever they pitch up.

Perhaps Customs and Excise managers and Inland Revenue Inspectors will write in and enlighten us?

P.S. Needless to say, nobody from the Inland Revenue or Customs and Excise took up the challenge.