The real story behind viral video of French farmer getting rid of travellers by spraying them with manure... and why he had to take action
Incredible footage captured the moment tractors are let loose on a farm in Hautes-Vosges to drive around in circles spraying a brown sludgy-looking liquid in their wake.
Loic Madre, the photographer who filmed the striking scenes and uploaded the clip to YouTube, explained to the Daily Mail that some travelers had trespassed onto the meadow without permission.
He claimed the harvest was due to take place in a few weeks, adding the grass that the squatters had been taking up was set to be used as animal feed.
'It was difficult to negotiate with the travelers; they refused to listen. The farmers received no support from the local authorities or the police,' Madre said.
'So they handled it on their own! As you can see in the images'.
Scores of white caravans and cars can be seen parked up on the outskirts of the land - in addition to what even appears to be one red Ferrari.
Desperate travellers run after the tractors as they spread the off-putting substances with one even managing to hold onto the side where he shouts and shakes his fist angrily.
But their efforts, said to have taken place on July 8, appear to be to avail as the enraged man eventually tumbles off the vehicle and others are unable to catch up.
Local media reports the farmers decided to take matters into their own hands after 'not receiving any help from the police' to 'get rid of an illegal gypsy camp'.
It is understood the farmers were spaying liquid manure (slurry) from their tanks to make the area so unpleasant the squatters would be forced to vacate.
Slurry is made up of a mixture of manure and water and is a known tactic used by farmers to get rid of unwanted visitors.
'As a result, there were several problems and complaints, but in the end, the travelers were forced to leave after a few days,' the cameraman said.
'The meadow was badly damaged, but they left'.
The incident follows a number of complaints from European farmers about trespassers on their land.
A number of people have since commented under a video on X to express their joy at the farmer's decision.
Scores of white caravans and cars can be seen parked up on the outskirts of the land - in addition to what even appears to be one red Ferrari
One person said 'Respect!' while another user dubbed the footage 'Feelgood video of the day, that'.
A third observed: 'The sprayed liquid is pig manure. The smell is so strong and long-lasting that the air is unbreathable for several days.'
Squatting incidents in Europe over recent months has not just been confined to farms.
The issue has also seen couples forced out of their homes after feeling helpless at the prospect of having trespassers evicted.
Earlier this week it emerged a British woman in Spain was forced to sell her dream Spanish holiday villa after a squatter moved in and refused to leave.
Joanne Venet, 61, said her ordeal began when a tenant refused to pay his €1,400 a month rent for the €450,000 three-bedroom luxury villa near Benidorm earlier this year.
Ms Venet was then faced with Spain's tough tenancy laws which could have seen her spend years and thousands of pounds to evict the tenant, who was a Spanish citizen.
In the end the wedding celebrant and actress from Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, was forced to pay an eviction agency - or 'de-squatters' - £4,000 to evict the tenant who owed €5,600 (£4,800) for four months unpaid rent and bills.
When she finally obtained possession of the property, it was trashed and covered in cocaine and cannabis paraphernalia, and debris.
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