Villagers are concerned a popular common is vulnerable to people illegally staying on the site after travellers attempted to move onto the open space.

Some six residents near Beeston Common, and a police officer, prevented about 25 vehicles towing caravans and trailers as well as an extra 10-15 other vehicles from illegally moving on to the grassy area on Saturday evening.

The legal custodian of the land, which does not have an owner, is Sheringham Town Council.

After the travellers moved from the common, on the side of the A149 coast road, they ended up at a legal travellers' site on the edge of Fakenham, owned by North Norfolk District Council.

Robert Courtney, 46, was staying at his mother's Beeston Common home at the time of the incident and was one of the villagers who protected the metal barrier across the common entrance, which had a padlock. They secured it with their own bicycle locks and padlocks.

Mr Courtney, who grew up in nearby Sheringham, said: 'I have no objection to the traveller lifestyle but they have to work within the law. The council is providing places for them and they should move to those sites.'

As well the Fakenham site, the district council which has powers to move travellers from its land, also has a legal traveller site next to its Cromer headquarters.

Mr Courtney added: 'The common remains vulnerable and the banks are becoming more accessible. The gate is wholly inappropriate. The common is highly-prized and benefits tourists and residents and needs to be protected.'

Sheringham mayor David Gooch said members would investigate but there were limits to what could be done to protect common land because of bylaws. Town councillor Mac McGinn said: 'There is no way you can totally protect that common. It is open for people to walk on as they want.'