A huge influx of Travellers forced junior players off a golf course and prompted a flurry of complaints.
Around 11 caravans were at East Links in Montrose last week before numbers dramatically increased to around 30 on Saturday.
Alan Crow, Montrose Golf Links ambassador and former chairman, who also lives nearby, said: “I’ve never seen anything like it and I have been here for 44 years.”
The caravans began arriving from 11.30am until dusk, with a large marquee also being erected on the links.
The Travellers pulled up at the pitch and putt course on Saturday while junior players were being put through their paces.
The session was stopped and the children had to be taken home by their parents because the caravans had blocked off the first hole.UPDATE: Travellers massed in Montrose to attend Christian festival“It is totally unbelievable,” said Mr Crow.“I’ve never seen so many caravans on the links. It is like a village.”
Mr Crow said junior sessions this week will now be moved to a different area of the links.
Montrose is a traditional passing-through area for Travellers who regularly pull up at the links every year.
Mr Crow’s wife Janice is the club’s junior convener and she said the Travellers’ presence was “intimidating”.
“We were on the pitch and putt with our little ones when the Travellers started arriving and surrounding us,” she said.
“We had to call them all in and ask their parents to take them home.
“There are caravans right on top of the pitch and putt and quite frankly it is now out of commission.
“To be absolutely fair some of these little ones can smack the ball a fair distance and the caravans were in danger of being smacked.
“I wouldn’t have wanted any of the youngsters to have been traumatised by hitting a caravan or hitting anyone.
“It is the largest number of vehicles we have seen here by a long chalk.”
Councillor David May said: “I’ve contacted the police and would strongly suggest that action is taken as soon as possible.
“The police obviously don’t play the role they used to as it does not seem to be a national priority.
“I think there needs to be new legislation and we need to look at this again.”
Police Scotland said they were aware of the presence of the Travellers.
There has already been an incident at the site when police were called on Thursday night.
A man was treated in hospital and police confirmed a 19-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy were charged.
They are due to appear in court today.