WHEN hundreds of gipsies and travellers set up camp in a field, nearby homeowners heard they had come for a 'Religious Festival.'

The vague description belied a well-established Christian gathering called the Light and Life Christian Mission, where devout members of the traveller community organise a holiday-style camp and others come along for the communal atmosphere.

On Sunday morning, caravans, work vans, and cars rolled up for the five-day celebration, held in an obliging farmer's field on the A449 between Worcester and Malvern, behind Pins Green.

When the Worcester News went to find out what was going on, a warm welcome was extended. Pristine caravans, outdoor gas cookers and canvas toilet cubicles filled up the recently cut field.

Dotted around were birdcages with songbirds hopping from perch to perch, and a few dogs chasing and charging about. The atmosphere was calm, laid back and happy.

At breakfast time, a small congregation had gathered under a blue and white tent for the daily prayer meeting.

A gospel reading is also held every night until the event finishes on Friday.

In the past few years there have been several meetings on the field.

Organiser of this Mission was Hubert Clee, a late middle-aged man in an open collar.

Sitting outside his family caravan, he explained what Light and Life was all about.

He showed scores of photographs of the work the organisation was doing around the globe.

"It's a registered charity, and we have churches all over the world - India, Romania France and others.

"We have care homes around the world where a minister and his wife look after about 50 to 55 children. Who could argue that that's bad work?"

He said Light and Life meetings happen among gipsies and travelling communities all over the country - the next one will be near Penrith in less than two week's time.

Closer to home, Mr Clee explained L&L was on a mission to take the gospel to members of the travelling community. "Not everybody here is a Christian, but we will spread the gospel to other travelling people. When they leave, they might not be believers, but they will be better people."

"Many of them have never paid tax, or had their car taxed, but the Bible teaches us to live by the laws of the land, and hopefully they will take that message with them.

"We do have the respect of the community, and if we asked them to leave this field now they would do - it will be the same on Friday."

"We will leave the area as we found it - you won't be able to pick up a match when we leave," said Mr Clee.

Whether or not this statement will placate residents angry they were not consulted before the arrival will have to remain to be seen.