PROTESTERS last night built a shelter as they continued their round-the-clock guard at a Chepstow field, stopping contractors building a council skate park.

Work was due to begin on the skatepark in Bulwark Park nearly two weeks ago.

But opponents say the way in which Monmouthshire county council acted has made them take action.

Last week residents found a legal way in which to block vehicles accessing the site through the planned entrance on St George Road. Earlier this week the council permitted contractors, Blakedown Landscapes, to crash through a fence and over a public footpath at 4am. Since then, residents, with an average age of fifty, have maintained one-and-a-half hour shifts by night and gathered en-masse throughout the day.

Yesterday police put up notices advising protesters that they were trespassing on the site as of 11am.

And the council says construction work will go ahead.

But protesters say new planning permission is required for the revised entrance and construction site.

County Councillor Cliff Meredith said: "We want to see plans for the revised site. The planning committee does not meet until a week on Tuesday. This needs their approval."

Resident Bob Brown, 65, has been on site since 5am, wearing a tee-shirt saying Save Our Public Place.

Mr Brown said: "Police will have to move me to get me off this site. Many of us feel the same way because we question the council's right to alter plans without planning permission."