OUR story about a farmer left with a costly clear-up operation after travellers dumped rubbish on his land has prompted an angry reaction from Worcester News readers.

We reported how a paddock belonging to Walter Rodgman was scattered with piles of Leylandii, gas cylinders, old sofas, children’s toys and general rubbish when travellers left after a week on the field.

The group moved on after Mr Rodgman took legal action against them in the civil courts but he was then refused help for the clean-up by Malvern Hills District Council because his is private land.

Readers posted a number of comments on this site including one, logging on as Sir Smeg, who said: “Until the law is changed and the police are issued with far greater powers than they have at present, this on-going problem will only escalate.

“And if the law-makers see fit not to make any changes then, I'm afraid, I can see citizens taking the law into their own hands and dealing with these people themselves.”

Another, writing under the name jb, said: “Why not try charging these people for staying on their land?

“If the farmer, with police in attendance, were to face these people and demand payment to cover damage and rubbish removal (cash obviously) maybe they would think twice about dumping themselves and their rubbish next time.”

The apparent unfairness of Mr Rodgman’s situation was also pointed out by Baldrick2708, who wrote: “If I was to drop a fag packet in the road or put the wrong type of rubbish in the wrong bin, I would be prosecuted, yet these people can do what they want, leave all their mess for someone to clear it up, not pay a penny in taxes, and appear to be way above the law. Why?”

Mr Rodgman’s field next to the Malvern Road, Powick, near Worcester is the latest area to be hit by mess left by travellers.

In the last two years, the former Ronkswood hospital, Shrub Hill retail park and Croft Road, Worcester, have been similarly affected.