Villagers, parish councillors and "retired ladies" laid down in front of travellers' vans and cars as they tried to pitch up in a playing field.

The angry locals rushed to make a human shield to stop an encampment from being set up in the green - and forced the convoy to retreat.

Elderly parish council members "risked their lives" to stand in front of the vehicles for 20 minutes and didn't move, despite visibly shaking.

The drama unfolded on Monday in the village of Weeley, in Essex, which has a population of less than 2,000.