Brawling travellers shut down holiday village

UNDER SIEGE Whitemead AN ENTIRE village was put into lockdown after 40 travellers brought chaos to a holiday park.

The “intimidating” group brawled and swore in the bar after arriving on Saturday, forcing other visitors to leave early because of the “disgusting behaviour”. Police were called three times on Christmas Day to the Whitemead Forest Park in the Forest of Dean, Glos.

Traders in nearby Parkend had been advised to shut while the Fountain Inn and Woodman pubs closed on Boxing Day “for the safety of staff”.

The Hoseasons resort shut to new visitors. James Buckle, booked to stay over the holiday, said: “A nice, family Christmas was ruined.”

Mandy Thomas, Whitemead general manager, called the travellers “extremely disruptive”.

A youth, 16, from Leicester, was arrested on suspicion of affray and assaulting police.