RESIDENTS have expressed dismay after travellers jetted in to land near the former Grove airfield.

Caravans are believed to have arrived on the grassed area, between Downsview and Denchworth Road, on Sunday evening.

The small contingent are parked on the edge of a roundabout where an aeroplane monument is situated in the village next to Wantage.

Police say their neighbourhood team are aware of the ‘unauthorised encampment’.

A spokeswoman added: “Officers are liaising with the landowner and the local authority.”

Grove Parish Council said the land is owned by a Robert Lamplough, who is listed on Companies House as a director of the company which possesses the area.

On a public Facebook group for residents, various people wrote ‘not again’ in response to news of the travellers’ arrival.

Another added: “They [travellers] were in the greens next to the Harcourt bus stop not so long ago and left an absolute mess and even polluted the stream.”

However, not everyone in the group was against the encampment,

One wrote: “What is the point of this post and why do you feel you need to warn people? What do you think they’re gonna do, kill everyone?

“Would you jump on here if it was a load of black people down there? Probably not because you’d be classed as a racist. Think about it.”