Residents living in Hawkerland are taking a united stand against a proposal to allow travellers to set up permanent camp in the small hamlet.

Residents living in Hawkerland are taking a united stand against a proposal to allow travellers to set up permanent camp in the small hamlet.

Calling themselves the Hawkerland Community Association, the group is determined to fight off plans to allow a permanent site for four caravans and a day room on a small plot of land within the hamlet beauty spot - a stone's throw away from the East Devon Way.

The residents say their objections are not about Nimbyism - not in my back yard.

They say four caravans and their occupants would have a huge impact on the 14 homes within the valley.

The group raised concerns over access and an increase in traffic.

The residents hope residents living in nearby villages and Budleigh Salterton will join their battle to prevent proposal.

Nine separate applications to develop the site have been turned down by the district council.

Such is the strong feeling over the site, two years ago the community clubbed together and pooled resources, offering more than �32,000 to buy the land and return it to pasture.

However their efforts were unsuccessful.

The chairman of the Hawkerland Community Association, who did not want to give his name for fear of reprisals, said the residents were feeling 'harassed and stressed' over the latest application. He said: "We are prepared to go down legal channels. We have spoken to the planning authority and hope our letters of objection will satisfy the needs to prevent it from happening.