TRAVELLERS have set up a camp on a leisure centre car park causing chaos on Bilford Road.
Employees at Perdiswell Leisure Centre on Bilford Road said they were shocked and scared after customers ran into the building warning them a convoy of caravans were making their way into the car park.
Travellers began arriving at 2.30pm today (Sunday) with police swiftly following to prevent a breach of the peace.
At one stage, police cars and caravans blocked the entrance to the car park leading to traffic chaos on Bilford Road.
READ MORE: Live updates as caravans block Perdiswell Leisure Centre causing traffic chaos
An employee at the centre said: "We had numerous customers come in saying travellers have arrived.
"It was scary."
Another employee added: "Three of us stood in front of the vans trying to stop them from coming in and waited for the authority.
"While we were there, someone went to call the police.
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"They were shouting in our faces, but we tried to keep calm, and I think we handled it well.
"We then tried to shut the barrier, and they started driving into it
"We opened the barrier then, as it started to become dangerous with all the threats flying around."
Classes and lessons carried on as normal while the disturbance was going on and the leisure centre remained open.
Eight police cars, two police vans and around a dozen officers were at the leisure centre car park.
A West Mercia Police officer at the scene said: "We are here to prevent a breach of the peace.
"The land is council property, and we are waiting for direction from the landlords."
Police eventually moved their van to let the cars trapped inside the car park leave, but this has allowed more caravans to enter the site.
READ MORE: Perdiswell Leisure Centre update as travellers block entrance
Eleven caravans were in the car park at about 3.30pm but Worcester News has been told more are set to arrive.
Perdiswell Leisure Centre has been informing parents that swimming lessons are still going ahead at the centre despite the disruption.
The car park has also reopened.
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