Travellers caused a headache for staff and weekend shoppers at one of Huddersfield’s biggest supermarkets.
Around 15 caravans set up camp in the car park at Sainsbury’s Shorehead store on Friday, taking out between 80 and 100 spaces.
The car park is usually full to capacity on Saturdays and shoppers were left struggling for spaces.
Young children were running around bare-footed and others raced around on bikes as cars came and went in all directions.
It was also claimed that women from the caravans were seen taking wash bags and towels into the supermarket toilets.
The Examiner understands the travellers demanded £2,000 to move on but no money was paid.
Among the vehicles was a lavish motorhome and 4x4s, most only ‘64 plates or newer. Someone who saw the vehicles at close quarters said: “There must have been half-a-million pounds worth of gear.”
Faced with the danger of cars coming and going, the travellers hitched up their caravans and left at 1pm on Saturday.
Sainsbury’s operates a time limit for shoppers on its car park with fines issued for vehicles which stay beyond three hours.
It is understood car registration numbers are logged and fines automatically sent to the registered keeper.
One shopper contacted the Examiner to tell of the chaos as half the car park was lost to shoppers.
The woman asked whether fines would be issued to the travellers for staying beyond the three-hour limit.
In an e-mail to the Examiner she wrote: “The police have been called and yet they say they can do nothing to move the travellers on.
“If a car was to park there all day, every day then we would be sure to heap up a hefty fine.
“Why should there be one rule for the law abiding tax payer and another for those who simply have no regard for members outside of their own community?
“Why do we feel our hands are tied to move them along and stop taking advantage of the facilities offered to customers just so that we won’t be politically incorrect?”
The woman called for a campaign for a change in the law and said: “Who do we contact to stop what seems to be an injustice, one rule for one and one rule for another?”
Staff at Sainsbury’s declined to comment.
Last week travellers left a mountain of rubbish after spending three weeks in the car park at the derelict former Spotted Cow pub in New Hey Road, Salendine Nook . Travellers also removed boulders to access land in Leeds Road, Bradley.
