Campaigners are gearing up for the public inquiry into a gipsy site at Newent, which reopens on Monday.

Residents say they are disappointed the long-running legal row has been dragged out further by a break in the inquiry.

But they are hoping their battle with travellers will be resolved this spring.

The row has rumbled on since the travellers moved onto a site in Southend Lane without planning permission and created 13 caravan pitches in 2009.

The first public inquiry in December 2009 granted temporary planning permission which ran out last January.

Travellers are appealing against a district council order to quit the site.

A second public inquiry started on November 6 last year but had to be adjourned.

When the inquiry resumes at Newent Community Centre on Monday, it is expected to last a further four days.

Opponents said this was two days more than they were originally told.

"We feel that this is particularly unfortunate given the additional stress and expense to all parties involved," said a spokesman for campaign group Newent RAID.

"It's obviously frustrating and Newent RAID would prefer to have a decision sooner and it probably won't now be until March. However, we do realise that the inspector is examining all issues very closely indeed.

"We trust that all previous local council, local authority and regional decisions will be taken into account and duly upheld."

The inquiry starts at 10am on Monday, January 21.