A city's only legal site for travellers has been shut for essential repairs after a gate protecting the land was vandalised.

The Horsdean transit site in Patcham, Brighton, has been closed since Sunday after the barrier was damaged by travellers trying to “gain unauthorised access”.

The land, which can house up to 23 families, reopened in autumn last year after a £200,000 refit. It provides temporary pitches for up to 12 weeks and has been “well used”, according to the council.

Travellers are charged £40 a pitch per week.

Planned repairs had been scheduled, including work on the toilets, after the last group of travellers left.

But on Sunday another group broke through the gates before work could be completed.

A spokeswoman for the council said: “While the work was in progress other travellers gained unauthorised access to the site. The council is currently taking action to evict them so that repairs can be completed and the site reopened as soon as possible.”

The spokeswoman did not say how long this would take.

The news comes as a huge clean-up operation, which could top £30,000, begins on land off Ditchling Road, Hollingbury, Brighton.

Fridges, freezers and garden waste have been discarded on the council-owned land, which has been occupied by travellers for the past week.

Police yesterday charged 31-year-old Chasey Jones with three offences related to fly-tipping. He was bailed to appear at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on August 29.

Jones is alleged to have dumped garden waste from a flat-bed truck in the field.

A council spokeswoman said: “Brighton and Hove City Council will be working with the police and the farmer who has responsibility for the land to consider what action is required.

Travellers also returned yesterday to a site opposite the RSPCA rescue centre in Braypool Lane, Brighton.

Gill Mitchell, Labour councillor for the Sheepcote Valley area, said: “My residents are asking why there are so many illegal encampments about the city when we have so many spare spaces at Horsdean.”