A CHILDREN’S rugby festival is in jeopardy after travellers occupied the car park at a rugby ground.

Eight caravans were parked on the car park at Waterhall in Brighton yesterday and organisers of this Sunday’s Brighton Rugby Club Minis Festival fear the event will have to be cancelled.

Around one thousand spectators and players are expected to attend the event for children aged seven to 12.

Jason Tams, commercial manager of the club, said this is the fourth time this year travellers have pitched up on the site.

He said this weekend is one of the club’s biggest event and the financial impact will be “massive” should they have to cancel it.

The money made from the festival’s entry fees allows the club to purchase equipment for the next year and provides support for their hardship fund.

The cancellation threat comes from concerns the travellers position on the car park could lead to traffic being backed up down the narrow access road which would leave it inaccessible to ambulances.

Mr Tams said: “100 to 120 car parking spaces have now gone.

“If I have to cancel this tournament now, the impact is going to be massive; the money gathered on this day allows us to keep going.

“Every club runs a mini festival and if they cannot get an ambulance onto the site it is a no go.

“The travellers are parked on the lower car park by the football pavilion. We have over a thousand people coming down.

“We cannot run the tournament if it unsafe. Why should eight caravans stop this event?”

Previous traveller encampments last year cost the club £10,000 due to cancellations.

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokesperson said the travellers have been given until this morning to move before eviction is sought.

He said: “An unauthorised encampment of Travellers arrived on Tuesday at Waterhall where a major community sporting event is due to be taking place this weekend.

“A joint visit took place with the police on Tuesday morning. We have told the travellers they are trespassing and asked them to leave.

“We are hoping to resolve this by Wednesday without recourse to legal action. However, if that fails we will not hesitate to pursue appropriate legal channels to ensure a swift eviction. We are also in contact with Brighton Rugby Club about how this situation can be resolved quickly before the matches on Sunday.”