PEOPLE living on a Trowbridge estate were shocked when a traveller's caravan went up in smoke on Monday morning.

At first residents thought the caravan may have been deliberately set alight by someone angry the travellers were parked on land off Lambrok Road, Studley Green. One man, who asked not to be named, said: "Some residents of Trowbridge, myself included, are absolutely disgusted that anybody could burn down someone's home like that.

"They are the most inoffensive people you can imagine." On further investigation by the Wiltshire Times it was discovered the owner of the caravan had been detained by police after claiming he started the blaze himself.

Police were called to the scene of the fire just before 8am and found the man nearby. A police spokesman said: "A man was detained under the Mental Health Act. He was examined by a doctor and representatives of the mental health team." The man, thought to be in his mid-30s, was taken to Green Lane Hospital in Devizes.

It is thought he had been camped on the site, close to the junction of Wingfield Road, for about five days before the fire. Another resident said she had tried to contact West Wiltshire District Council at the end of last week to ask if the man would be moved on, but had not received an answer.

Speaking before the fire she said: "He put up a cordoned area for his horses so I think he is here for the duration. "Everybody has a right to live their lives as they choose but we can't do anything to our houses without asking West Wiltshire District Council and if you allow one traveller there you have to allow them all."

Other travellers in the group moved off the land, which is owned by the district council, later this week, taking the man's animals with them. The council can take action to move on travellers if they stay uninvited on land for longer than 10 days.