Simon Cowell’s mother turned to her world-famous son over fears her local playing field was to become a permanent traveller site.

Julie Cowell said she was told by residents that Brighton and Hove City Council was eyeing up Happy Valley in Woodingdean as the location for the planned site – and some had even been told the decision had already been made.

Mrs Cowell said she rang her son up immediately after being told.

He shared her concerns that the area would be unsuitable as a permanent site.

She said: “It’s a lovely area. I was told by certain people that the council has agreed to it and everyone I spoke to was in a most distressed state.

“People around here take time over their properties.”

A petition has been sent around Woodingdean opposing “plans” to move travellers on to the site permanently.

However, the council has quashed the rumours saying a decision has not yet been made.

The council is committed to providing a permanent site, which traveller groups say is desperately needed in Brighton and Hove, and said it is currently looking at locations around the city.

Woodingdean residents were unhappy when about 25 caravans pitched up at Happy Valley earlier this month.

They said a changing room used by football teams had been broken into, fixtures had been removed from inside and copper pipes that supplied plumbing to the facility had been ripped out.

Residents also accused the group of leaving the field covered in human waste.

Ward councillor Dee Simson said the rumours about the planned permanent site were “Chinese whispers”.

She said a combination of the recent traveller encampment, the petition and the fact cyclists on the London to Brighton bike ride were allowed to camp there had led people to the wrong conclusion. She said: “We had problems a few weeks ago. There has been a petition going around the village.

“It is just a combination of the three things. But I think people are concerned.”

A council spokesman said: “No site has yet been chosen for a permanent traveller site for the city.

“We are currently conducting a site search across the city as a matter of urgency and will make an announcement as soon as we can.”