Police operation in Castres: water and electricity cut off at illegal caravan camp

Amy Edwards, 40, left the UK in May 2026 to travel Europe in a motorhome with her husband and five younger children, homeschooling them on the road. The family bought the motorhome in July 2025 and previously toured Wales and the Peak District. After France, they plan to move to Spain and Portugal. Edwards said the decision to leave mainstream education was deliberate and that the move had been planned for nine years.

Since May, the Decazeville community has deployed a mobile reception unit based on a motorhome to improve access to services. Residents can receive individual support and participate in group activities on key topics. The service is free and does not require registration.

In Fareins (Ain department), about 15 caravans illegally occupied a football field used by Fareins Saône Vallée Foot club. The club suspended training indefinitely, citing risks of infrastructure damage and disruption of a veterans tournament. Earlier, around 200 caravans were reported on a field in Saint-André-de-Corcy.

A French couple has been traveling in a motorhome for 30 seasons, following cycling races. They stop on the climb at Saint-Vidal to watch the competitions. This is an example of a long-term passion, not a one-time trip.

About a hundred caravans belonging to the travelling community, illegally parked on the Chênaie site, left the area on Sunday, June 7, in the afternoon. The departure was calm. Mayor Marie-Agnès Ménoret Ultra, accompanied by her deputy Claude Grangé, visited the site to witness the departure. While some litter remained on the wooded terrain, most waste was placed in or near containers. On Monday morning, municipal workers began cleaning: they filled containers, and the garbage truck made several trips to remove waste. Bulky items, such as chairs and a washing machine, were loaded into the municipal dump truck and taken to the landfill.

On June 7, 13 caravans of evangelical travelers illegally occupied the Boulbènes football field in Fonsorbes. Mayor Mathieu Lafoux initiated administrative and judicial expulsion proceedings after the occupants refused to leave. The incident disrupted legally parked caravans of fairground workers preparing for the local festival.