Security guards have been drafted in to attend a meeting about two controversial gipsy sites.

Crawley Borough Council was branded "racist" after voting against plans for traveller sites to be built in the town.

The Argus reported how a row broke out when the Gipsy Council said the town would allow the sites "come hell or high water".

Now, security guards have been recruited for a council meeting today at which the final decision is to be made.

It is feared emotions have run so high that violence could break out.

A council spokesman said: "We are expecting a very large number of people. This is part of the reason why we are now holding the meeting at the K2 centre as it is a bigger venue.

"At the last meeting, we had more than 1,000 people attend and I imagine it will be more this time.

"There will be about ten security guards but about 30 staff in total, all of whom will help things run smoothly.

"Some people are clearly angry about it - that comes across in their comments. But by and large, people have been extremely well-mannered."

There are five traveller sites in East Sussex: One in Rother, three in Wealden and a transit site in Lewes. A second site in Rother was closed in 1994.

There are 11 sites in West Sussex: One in Adur, one in Arundel, two in Chichester, one in Henfield, two in Burgess Hill, two in Horsham and two in Haywards Heath.

Brighton and Hove City Council has a site in Patcham.

Crawley Borough Council voted against allowing two gipsy sites, one permanent at Crawley Avenue and one temporary at Rowley Farm, near James Watt Way.

Emma Nuttall, unit manager for Friends, Families and Travellers, said: "Crawley has been identified as one of the areas in West Sussex that needs sites.

"If authorised sites are not provided then travellers will have no option but to stop elsewhere in parks and playing fields.

"This shortage of sites has crept up. At the last count in July 2005, there were 15,711 caravans in England and 4,067 of those had no site to go to. That is 25 per cent.

"Crawley providing a site should be a win-win situation. If you have official sites, it gives you the power to evict travellers from unofficial sites.

The council can also charge rent and council tax."

Jackie Whitford, head of the traveller education service for East Sussex and Brighton and Hove, said: "We mainly feel that everybody has to have a safe and secure stopping place and it's best that it's planned and thought through.

"If there is nowhere for them to stop appropriately, then they will stop inappropriately, which ultimately costs more money than providing appropriate facilities.

"The problem is that nothing has increased since about 1970.

There is a national shortfall of sites and so you have people who are effectively homeless and often camp inappropriately."

The committee will make its decision at the meeting at 7.30pm tonight at K2 Crawley.