It is the fifth major gathering of travellers in the city in recent months following earlier encampments at Birkhill, Stannergate, Dunsinane and Riverside Avenue.

Local businessman Gordon Reid, whose company premises are just a short distance from the travellers, said he was amazed at their ability to continue flouting the law. He said, “This is a really big gathering of caravans.

“How come they get away with all sorts of things that people usually get arrested for? It always seems like there’s a different law for them.”

Earlier travellers’ encampments have drawn criticism from people living in adjacent areas.

Dundee City Council has had to conduct clean-up operations to get rid of the rubbish that is sometimes left behind when travellers vacate a site.

A gathering of travellers earlier this month on ground near Birkhill Cemetery, which is owned by the local authority, left rubbish, rotten food and human and canine waste.

More caravans then appeared on a site at Stannergate next to the city’s port and further along in Riverside Avenue.

A spokesman for Tayside Police said they would act if a complaint was received from the landowner. He said that if travellers then refused to leave, enforcement might at that point become necessary.