ROYDON Mill Leisure Park is set to lose tens of thousands of pounds a year in business after bosses decided to stop selling day tickets, because of the "terrifying behaviour" of travellers who, it is claimed, have gathered there and threatened local visitors.

On a recent Sunday more than 100 travellers "invaded" the park, according to David Davison who runs the holiday park with his brother Tom.

He said: "These travellers arrive in small groups throughout the day, but once on the park they gather together and behave in a way which terrifies ordinary guests.

"Many of them appear drunk and they intimidate other park visitors with their abusive and threatening behaviour.

"The children at times behave worse than the adults, running riot around the park, entering caravans and tents and stealing almost anything which isn't nailed down."

He said that when approached, children aged as young as nine or ten use "extremely abusive language and, in some cases, physical violence".

In summer, the park attracts up to 3,000 visitors a day, most of whom are families living within a ten-mile radius.

As well as the loss of income, Mr Davison said the move would rob local people of the chance to enjoy the park's watersports lake and swimming pool, as well as causing the loss of several jobs.

The 58-acre park, which recently won a conservation award from Professor David Bellamy, has 80 privately-owned holiday homes, a small development of residential park homes, and 60 pitches for touring caravans, plus a six-acre area set aside for camping.