TRAVELLERS parked on fields at Poundbury today said they were waiting to collect the body of a relative who died at the Great Dorset Steam Fair.
A group of caravans parked on the land, which belongs to Prince Charles' Duchy of Cornwall, last night after moving from the event at Blandford.
One of the travellers Yank Jones, 31, said he was the brother-in-law of Teeman Jason Williams, 27, whose body was found in a reservoir at the show ground.
He said that they had not wanted to stay at the steam fair grounds after the tragedy and wanted to spend the night in Dorchester while they waited to collect the body from Dorset County Hospital.
Mr Jones said: "We didn't want to stay the night there. His wife wanted to be close to him and that is why we've come here. It was as close as we could get to him."
He said that the group, who were friends and family of the dead man, would head back home to Wales once they had received the body from the
hospital. His father Robert Williams, 47, said he had travelled down from Wales to meet the group after hearing about his son's death. Other members of the group said that they had never been to Poundbury before and had travelled to Dorset from Bath.
Inspector Les Fry confirmed that the group had come from the steam fair and had told police that they would leave after collecting the body.
Inspector Fry said that the body was due to be released from Dorset County Hospital later on today.
"We are constantly monitoring the situation and we are very much aware of local residents' concerns."
He added: "I will be speaking with the Duchy later on to formulate a plan of action."
Sheila Plummer, who lives in Billingsmoor Lane, says she has been frightened to go near the site since the travellers arrived.
She said: "They have a lot of yapping dogs that are attacking other dogs. I usually take my dog there every morning, but it's been impossible to go there since they arrived.
"They are on private ground and they've no right to be there. They think they can just do what they like when they like and blow the rest of us."
Mrs Plummer said she had phoned the police to complain about the problems the travellers were causing.
She said: "The police were very nice about it, but their hands are tied. They can't do anything because of the way the law stands and the law isn't going to change until enough of us make enough of a fuss."
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