Illegal travellers are costing the UK's farming community up to £100 million a year, according to a new report.
Almost 80 per cent of the farmers questioned in a survey carried out by the Natioanl Farmers' Union had been affected by what the union has dubbed 'illegal outlaws', with some having spent upwards of £1,500 a year on clean up costs after their land was illegally camped upon.
More than 50 per cent of the 2,000 respondents believed that the incidence of illegal outlaws has increased in the last five years. The biggest problem cited was rubbish dumping, which had affected 80 per cent.
Physical threats were made to more than 20 per cent, 50 per cent had experienced theft and 70 per cent said their clearing up costs were more than £500 a year.
The vast majority believe that not enough is being done to tackle the problem. The report is published as the government considers the introduction of revised guidance to local authorities and the police on dealing with the issue. An Anti-social Behaviour Bill is due in the House of Lords in mid-November.
NFU deputy president Tim Bennett said: "The government can no longer afford to turn a blind eye to this problem - it is unacceptable for law abiding members of the public to be left unprotected."
