Police descend on field at Hampshire club to ‘evict’ Travellers

• The travellers were removed from the cricket field at Petersfield Cricket club 

Police have descended on a cricket field at a club in Hampshire to ‘evict’ travellers who allegedly broke onto the land and drove around in circles in the middle of the night. 

The travellers were removed from the cricket field at Petersfield Cricket club, which is said to have been severely damaged by the intrusion. 

Photos posted by the club online show the field blighted with deep, circular tyre marks cutting into the grass. 

Club Captain Chris Russell told MailOnline: ‘Last night we had some unexpected visitors. 

‘On our CCTV two four by four Ford Rangers were doing doughnuts on our out field. 

‘We are a volunteer club with 200 [members] and many adult teams. 

‘We have lots and lots of volunteer hours to put everything together. It is really disappointing that there’s this mindless damage […] but we will come back stronger from this.’ 

The club has set up a fundraiser to repair the damage caused by the circling vehicles, which has so far raised nearly £1,000. 

In a statement, the club said: ‘Overnight, our cricket club pitch was vandalised. This has caused significant damage which we are now needing to fix.

‘As a club, we provide cricket opportunities to 200 members from aged 3 to adults with Petersfield Heath providing a community hub in the town.

‘The club has invested considerable money and hours in achieving the playing facilities we are proud of and in one night, this has been destroyed.

‘We hope to be able to return the ground to its original state and we can only do that with your help.

‘We are absolutely devastated to share the damage which has been caused to our ground at Petersfield Heath overnight.

‘If anyone has any information, please let us know.

‘We have volunteers working to try and fix the damage so if you would like to help, please get in touch.’ 

A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: ‘We were called at 6.12pm yesterday (29 May) to a report of an unauthorised encampment on Heath Common in Petersfield.

‘Officers attended earlier today with the local authority when an eviction notice was served. The group has now left the area.

‘We have received reports of some criminal damage on the site and these reports are now under investigation.’