Residents are backing a planning appeal by travellers to build a camp on the edge of their village.

The camp An Arncott parish councillor said about 90 per cent of people in the village had signed a petition to support English Romany Gypsies building a site for 20 static mobile homes and 20 touring caravans on the outskirts.

Aylesbury Vale District Council refused planning permission for the site earlier this year on the grounds that it would harm the rural area and be contrary to the district's planning policies.

The travellers have six months to lodge an appeal, but the council's enforcement team has already begun legal action.

But not all residents are happy. One, who did not want to be named, claimed the travellers had moved onto the land, which they own, illegally last Easter.

The resident said: "They came round to me wanting me to sign a petition to support them, but it's totally illegal.

"A lot a people in the village signed it, then I learned councillors were supporting them. They are supporting breaking the law.

"I run a business and I have to go through all the rules and regulations and they just get away with it. They just move in and do what they want."

But parish councillor Sue Baxter said councillors had signed the petition as individuals rather than councillors.

She added: "Ninety per cent of villagers support the travellers. We have never had any problems.

"One of the travellers asked us if he could come to a parish meeting to answer questions -- everyone signed the petition."

Maggie Smith-Bendell, of the Romany Gypsy Council, which is supporting the travellers' application, said they were preparing to appeal.

She said: "They are genuine Romanies and all they want is a base from which to travel and from which to educate their children."

She said the travellers were homeless before they moved onto the site, as there was a national shortage of sites, and they could not set up camp by roads.

Last year, Ms Smith-Bendell said travellers had moved on to the site before submitting a planning application because if they asked for planning permission before buying the site, they would never get it.

Arncott's annual parish meeting is tonight in the village hall at 7.30pm. Ms Smith-Bendell will be present to answer questions.