Anger as 1,000 gypsies arrive at ‘tiny’ festival

WHEN residents of a picturesque village heard they were to host a Christian festival, they expected a handful of worshippers and a low-key programme of prayer meetings.

But when the Life and Light Mission rolled on to the green, it consisted of more than 1,000 gypsies and a convoy of 200 caravans.

The event – which organisers claim will “save the lost ones from hell” – turned out to be part of one of the biggest religious gypsy events in the world.

Villagers in Swavesey, Cambridgeshire, claimed yesterday that they were duped after permission was granted for a small six-day religious festival with a dozen caravans to be held on the 30-acre field.

Within days, residents were complaining about disruption from their unexpected visitors.

Shopkeepers claimed children from the camp were stealing their stock, while the local pub landlord closed his doors after being pestered by under-age drinkers.

Read more