MAYHEM in Leominster caused by a group of travellers setting up camp in car parks came to a head this week when a supermarket customer had to be cut free from a crushed car and taken to hospital.

The middle-aged woman became trapped at the Kwik Save car park in Westbury Street, Leominster, after her stationary car was struck by an incoming vehicle allegedly driven by a traveller.

The woman's car was forced on to a grassed area against a lamppost.

Leominster fire fighters were called in to cut away the side of the caved-in vehicle. The distressed occupant was taken to hospital in a neck brace.

Supermarket bosses were yesterday taking legal action to evict the group of travellers living in seven caravans. It was the latest of a series of car park squats to disrupt Leominster.

Kwik Save staff became uneasy, some customers stayed away and the emergency services were called to a number of incidents after the travellers set up camp, complete with washing line.

One store worker who went to deal with a car park problem was allegedly assaulted, after a traveller decided to 'get involved,' store assistants said.

The worker, said to be 'a big lad' able to defend himself, was not injured.

Leominster's mayor Patricia Thomas said townspeople were getting "fed up" with the invasion.

"Leominster has had more than its fair share of this. The travellers are moving around the town, and seem to be one step ahead all the time," she said.

The group, from Ireland, has squatted at various Leominster car parks. At Safeway, they were alleged to have turned off noisy cooling equipment.

A store spokesman said the system was computer-monitored and no damage was done. The management called in bailiffs to move on the squatters.

Herefordshire Council obtained a court injunction to prevent the travellers from returning to any of its Leominster public car parks after two were occupied.

Kwik Save was pursuing legal action. "We are launching an injunction in the interests of our customers for whom this has been highly inconvenient," said spokeswoman Gaynor Evans.

The Police have attended a number of incidents at the store, but no one was available to comment at Hereford Police HQ yesterday (Wednesday).

West Mercia Police press officer, Allen Peach, said officers were liaising with the supermarket management over procedures for eviction. "Appropriate action will be taken over any criminal activity," said Mr Peach.