EXMOOR beauty spots are suffering from ‘mass invasions’ of camper vans and might have to be protected by a change in the law, a local MP claimed this week.

Ian Liddell-Grainger believed that ‘uncontrolled gatherings of mobile homes’ were starting to cause serious problems for landowners and giving some of the most scenic areas of Exmoor the appearance of travellers’ camps.

He said that one of the most popular sites for camper vans was Landacre Bridge, near Exford, where up to a dozen had recently been counted and that “private landowners were now being put to huge inconvenience by people choosing to avoid paying for pitches at official camping and caravanning parks.

“This is a particular problem in a national park where everyone assumes the land is publicly owned and therefore freely available for public use,” he said.

“In fact, the majority of the land is still in private ownership and it’s the private owners who are having to bear the brunt of the problems.

“Landacre Bridge is one of the most beautiful corners of the moor but with a flotilla of mobile homes in place, barbecues being lit and dogs allowed to run wild, it’s taken on the appearance of a travellers’ site.”

Mr Liddell-Grainger added: “There are no facilities for dumping litter, barbecues are an enormous fire risk and the emptying of chemical toilets into rivers and watercourses is utterly unacceptable.

“Clearly in the short term the national park authority needs to be supporting private landowners to ban overnight stays by mobile home owners at unauthorised places like this but in the long term this menace clearly needs to be controlled by changes in the law – and I should be more than happy to support them.”

In reply, Dan Barnett, access and recreation manager for Exmoor National Park, said: “Camping and motorhomes are both great ways to enjoy the National Park, but it’s worth knowing that there is no legal right to park up overnight without landowner permission on Exmoor, or anywhere else in England and Wales.

“Luckily there are many wonderful campsites where you can stay, including ones that are wilder in character or easier on the pocket.

“By opting for these you are supporting the local economy and the hard work our local farmers and campsite owners put into providing you with a safe and responsible stay.

“The vast majority of people enjoy Exmoor responsibly and our ranger team visit all our ‘honey pot’ sites regularly to assist and engage with visitors.

“This year, we have put in additional ranger staffing over weekends and developed lots of new information to help and encourage people to enjoy the National Park responsibly. We’re also working closely with our partners, including the police, to help manage the situation and ensure communities are supported as things get busier over the summer.”