Travellers invade Tesco car park in UK seaside town harassing shoppers and stealing food

A group of travellers allegedly harassed shoppers and stole from trolleys after taking over a supermarket car park. It is claimed the group "ran riot" after setting up camp outside a store in Littlehampton, West Sussex.

The reports they arrived at the site after being kicked out of a nearby park earlier this week. Aerial photos show 19 caravans in an area of the retail park in Broad Piece. Groups allegedly stole items from a nearby Currys - where they also allegedly trashed a fridge - and a neighbouring Wickes store and snatched food from trolleys.

One man told the : "It was as if they had organised it on purpose - to descend on the retail park in numbers to cause the maximum amount of chaos.

"They were stealing things from Tesco and harassing shoppers for money and food and generally causing an absolute nuisance of themselves."

Another person told the paper: "It was pre-planned - you could tell. They all arrived at the same time thinking they'd just run riot, steal food, beg money and hassle people. Luckily the police responded pretty quickly."

Police are said to have arrived at the car park on Thursday evening following reports of criminal behaviour and "enacted legislation for the travellers to leave".

The caravans reportedly arrived at the Tesco store on Wednesday after being seen leaving Rosemead Park, where they had previously pitched, around a five-minute drive away. Littlehampton Town Council, which owns the site, said the "unauthorised encampment at Rosemead Park" had "departed" after police issued a notice ordering them to leave.

The council added that officials confirmed the area had been vacated and was open for the public, adding it was working to install temporary concrete barriers in the coming days as "an immediate security measure".

An Arun District Council spokesperson said it was Tesco's "responsibility to instigate the appropriate action" as it is private land, the reported.

A spokesman confirmed the store remains open for business with the caravans no longer on site.

A police car and two officers had reportedly been seen at Broad Piece Retail Park on Friday.

The Express approached Sussex Police for a statement.