Richmond Council launched legal proceedings this week to remove a group of travellers with caravans who moved on to Kew Green.

The arrival of the travellers has become an annual event leaving residents angry and upset.

At the same time, the regular visits through the spring and summer often leave the Council's staff having to clean up large amounts of waste.

The situation has become so bad, generating substantial costs for Council Tax payers, that residents have asked for fences to be erected around the Green to stop travellers getting on to the site.

In the past, residents have complained about threats, vandalism, and children throwing stones at locals.

One resident challenged the Council and police to take action, saying: "Maybe you would like to suggest they don't do the wheelies at speed? They are driving fast over the green and there are pedestrians everywhere!"

Another said: "They have also been harassing the birds on the pond. They caught a duck this afternoon and only released it when confronted. With so many young and nesting birds there this could be a disaster. Please act ASAP."

Richmond Council and other local authorities are currently forced to go through an expensive and time-consuming legal process every time an illegal camp is set up.

Richmond is among a number of authorities that have launched legal action to win the right to move on such groups immediately in the event of trespass on public green spaces, however this has not been resolved.

A council statement stated: "We are aware that a group of Travellers have arrived on Kew Green.

"Traveller camps breach our Public Space Protection Orders which prohibit unauthorised access and camping on our open spaces.

"We have started the welfare checks and legal process to move them on as soon as possible."

Public Space Protection Orders are designed to counter anti-social behaviour which is having, or is likely to have, a significant impact on local residents.

According to Richmond Council, as of 16 October 2017, all parks and open spaces are controlled by Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs), which impose various restrictions to dog control and antisocial activities in parks and open spaces.

UPDATE: Richmond Council confirmed this morning – Thursday – that the travellers have left.