ANGRY Leominster residents who say their lives are made a misery by travellers setting up camp near their homes are to stage a public meeting to co-ordinate protests across the town.

People living near Broad Street car park - the most popular local stop for gypsies and travellers - say the most recent 'invasion' was the last straw.

Residents claim they were subjected to verbal abuse and were disturbed at night by shouting and dogs barking.

They claim gardens were used as toilets, fences, doors and cars were damaged. Items, including a child's scooter, were stolen.

One resident at The Priory said she was so distressed she was moving away. The woman told an informal meeting of residents she was being 'driven out'.

She thought she had moved to 'a lovely, quiet part of Leominster'. But in two and a half years, her dog had been attacked, children tried to steal the animal, her garden had been used as a thoroughfare, a toilet, and fruit was stolen.

Her door was frequently knocked, door furniture had been broken four times and her car had been scratched.

Another resident, Lyn Kendall, who had £400 damage done to her parked car, said local people felt angry and frustrated by a lack of action by the authorities.

"This whole thing has been horrendous," said Ms Kendall. She and her neighbours were urging townspeople concerned over problems with travellers to attend an open meeting at Leominster Community Centre on Monday (November 12) at 7.30pm.

The Collins family, the group of Irish travellers, which has camped at council-owned, and supermarket car parks, was evicted from Kwik Save last week. They occupied the disused former turkey farm site at Barons Cross.

Spokeswoman Mary Collins said allegations made against her group were 'lies'.

She claimed travellers were not at fault in last week's accident at Kwik Save car park in which a woman was injured. Travellers were the first to offer assistance and two were themselves injured, she claimed.

Ms Collins said her family once lived at Romany Close, Hereford, but was forced to leave. "We are begging for a place to call home, a place with a toilet, electricity and running water."

Members of the family were ill and the children were suffering from disruption and lack of schooling, she added.

Councillor June French said: "These travellers have held Leominster hostage for long enough."

County council chiefs have agreed to her plea for a fast-track review on traveller procedures.