Police were called to an illegal Travellers’ camp in Montrose after concerns were raised about their proximity to a pitch and putt course where a children’s lesson was being conducted.
Officers attended at the East Links on Saturday morning and asked for several of the Travellers’ vehicles to be moved further away from the course.
No one from the Travellers group approached the children or interfered with play, but one of the volunteer coaches described their presence as “intimidating”.
There are now 19 caravans at the site along with other associated vehicles, an increase from 11 caravans a week ago.
The camp is on council-owned ground near to the clubhouse of Royal Montrose Golf Club, which is a popular area for dog walkers.
Last week Angus Council said it was “monitoring” the situation though had yet to take any legal action.
One of the golf coaches said: “We use the pitch and putt area on Saturdays for our juniors who range in age from four to 10.
“The Travellers are not on the course but very near and stray balls could hit their vehicles.
“They have increased a lot in numbers over the past few days.
“On Saturday there was a wee dog in a kennel right at the first tee of the pitch and putt. The police were contacted and asked some of the vehicles to move, which they did.
“There was no interaction with the Travellers and the children. It was just the presence, the number of Travellers, the proximity and the anticipation that there might be a problem.
“I’m not unsympathetic towards the Travellers but they shouldn’t be there and they are interfering with the sport we are trying to encourage with our little ones.”
Montrose councillor David May contacted police on Saturday morning after being informed about the situation.
He praised the officers for their quick response to the situation.
He said: “Within five minutes of me arriving the police were there speaking to the Travellers.
“Some of the Travellers weren’t there so they couldn’t move their vehicles, but others whose vans were there did move them.
“They said they would speak to other Travellers to get them moved further away as well.
“Anyone playing pitch and putt could have hit one of the Travellers’ vehicles.”
Police were also called to the site on Saturday evening to investigate a report of a young child riding a lawn tractor.
A police spokesman said officers attended the site at 5pm but were unable to trace the vehicle.
The site has frequently been used by Travellers in the past. Last year, more than 50 caravans arrived at the East Links in May for a Christian festival.