Bid to protect common faces opposition

A BATTLE of wills is under way over measures to try to prevent travellers camping on a village common.

Last month, farmer Christopher Sargent, who owns the registered common at Morningthorpe, Norfolk, created a bank and ditch in an attempt to prevent access by travellers.

 But a group of 20 local residents, travellers and ramblers turned up on Sunday to push the earth back into the ditch, claiming it was an illegal obstruction to walkers, horse-riders and those who had commoners” rights. The group also said the earthworks was a worse eyesore than any which had been created by travellers.

However, Mr Sargent went back into action the next morning to restore the ditch and bank.

 The battle of wills comes after several sets of travellers used the common last year, some causing a great deal of mess. Mr Sargent is determined to prevent the problem recurring. “I am taking legal advice to hopefully resolve this.”