"‘I’ll Take Action!’: Local Man Vows to Stand Against Travellers Who Tarmacked Village Field in Just Three Days"

A MAN living in a multi-million pound house is fighting back after travellers set up shop next door.

The lawyer was shocked to see the demolition site after he woke up one morning on a bank holiday weekend.

Travellers that have torn up fields and built a site in West Sussex Credit: SWNS It is believed the council has fewer enforcement officers on duty than normal Credit: SWNS

Nick Jones, owner of the 17th century £2 million house in Chiltington, had owned the surrounding land to keep horses on until July of last year.

When he no longer had use of the land, he decided to sell it to a developer for £200,000.

Putting strict rules in place, he believed the contract to be watertight and safe from any manipulation.

However, just months after the sale, diggers moved in to tarmac the place and make way for .

A number of sites have been built this year over bank holiday weekend Credit: SWNS The caravans have set up shop despite a deed stating otherwise Credit: SWNS

Mr Jones understood the buyer would build four or five executive on the plot, specifically stating it could not be used for static homes.

Despite a clause in the conditions stating any further sales had to be run past Mr Jones and his wife, the developer went on to divide the land and sell it on as multiple plots.

The lawyer has been determined to fight the sale ever since, vowing “I will get rid of them”.

To the Daily Mail , Mr Jones said: “It is devastating for us, as it is for other villagers.

“We are working closely with our and the council to rectify the situation.

“We are confident that private legal action for breach of the covenants on use of the land, working in conjunction with council enforcement officers, will prevail in the end.”

at the time of the building works, one resident said: “We believe it is a traveller site. There were lots of lorries and other vehicles.

“The local council and were here then, but the work carried on.”

Another said he had not seen any planning notices go up before the work began.

“They started on Friday and there have been lots of vehicles. You can hear the work is still going on,” he added.

Horsham District Council said it had been alerted that “unauthorised works” on a site at Clayes Farm were likely to go ahead over the bank holiday weekend.

A spokesperson added it had served a temporary stop notice on the land early on Saturday.

Despite these notices, drone images of the site show an eyesore of tarmac laid upon the green fields – with caravans having already moved in.

It is not currently clear who owns the land in question, as the company who bought it off Mr Jones – UK Real Estate And Land 1 – has since been dissolved.

Horsham District Council said: “Following reports received last week that unauthorised works at a site on land south of Clayes Farm in Broadford Bridge Road, West Chiltington, were likely to take place over the bank holiday weekend, Horsham district council prepared temporary stop notices which were issued and served on the land early on the morning of Saturday, May 23.

“Investigations are continuing, which may result in further formal action.”

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “[We] can confirm officers attended to prevent a breach of peace, in support of the local authority as the lead agency.”