A group of travellers set up camp in Prospect Park and looked to be staying for the Bank Holiday weekend until local politicians became involved. MPs Rob Wilson and Martin Salter have engaged in an increasingly macho war of words in an attempt to have them moved on.

Mr. Wilson told us: "They come here with their dodgy cars and try to relieve unwitting householders of their money through their games of chance. I've had several reports of people being taken for a ride by them. It must be stopped." Martin Salter also complained: "Residents have told me that these people have been steaming around Reading and using air rifles in the park and I am contacting the agencies to make sure that they are forced to move on before they cause any more nuisance."

One local resident has spoken out against the MPs' moves. "I was going to take my children to Carter's Steam Fair this weekend, but it seems the police have rounded them up and moved them on. Little Jake has been crying all week, he was so looking forward to it."

Stop Press: due to a mix up, we mistakenly printed 'dodgy cars' when of course it should have read 'dodgem cars'