Angus residents are calling for action after an influx of Travellers to local burghs in recent days.
Forfar and Montrose have both witnessed the arrival of groups of caravans and people in the two towns have expressed fears the local authority is powerless to move them on.
As the authority continues to monitor a long-standing illegal site within yards of their Angus House HQ at Orchardbank, the council has now received complaints about the arrival of around 10 caravans and associated vehicles between Lilybank and Gowanbank, on the east of the town.
The area, shielded by trees from the Forfar-Montrose road, sits opposite the emerging Restenneth Fields development and has in the past been an impromptu stop-off for Travellers.
It is a popular spot with dog walkers but, with the Travellers pitched in the middle of the open ground, some residents say they feel the area is now out of bounds to locals.
Forfar Community Council chairman Isobel Ross said: “Unless the landowners come forward and file a complaint, the police and the council don’t seem to be able to do a thing.
“These camps are popping up all over the place.
“Councils all across the area have purpose-built sites for Travellers. I don’t understand why they don’t seem to want to use them.”
Meanwhile, in Montrose, a group has again taken up residence on the links near the golf course.
Montrose councillor David May said he had received a number of complaints about the Travellers and he is concerned over an apparent shift in approach by police.
“In the past, the police and council would make contact with them and within two or three days they would move on,” he said.
“The council still continue to play the role they did but following contact with the police I was told by them that their approach to Travellers changed following the inception of Police Scotland.
“In simple terms Police Scotland will monitor encampments and deal with elements of criminality.”
A council spokeswoman said officials would continue to “monitor the encampments”.