A GROUP of men on a charity horse and cart ride sparked panic among residents in Woodford Green when they were mistaken for a group of travellers.

The men, who are winding their way from Norwich to Hyde Park to raise money for Cancer Research, made an unscheduled stop on a patch of land in the High Road last night when their horses became too tired.

They decided to settle down for the night, but worried residents called the police assuming they were travellers wanting to stay on the land.

The Guardian has since been deluged with phone calls from worried neighbours about the group, who have now left the site within the past hour.

One businessman, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals from the apparent travellers, told us: "They have descended on us. We don't want them here.

"I'm worried there's going to be a lot of crime, litter and disruption if they stay."

But the group - who camped in tents overnight alongside their four horses and carts - only intended to stop on the land for a few hours.

When they explained to police and those living immediately nearby they became deluged with offers of food and drink, while children enjoyed having their photos taken with the horses.

Jamie Gray, a 40-year-old builder from Norwich, said: "Cancer affects everyone, ask anyone and they will know someone who has had cancer or died from it, so we really wanted to do something for such a good cause.

"We set off on Monday from Norwich, the Lord Mayor of Norwich saw us off and it was all over the papers there, but perhaps we should have publicised it in London.

"We'd planned to come a different way into London but had to change our plans, and someone told us there was some common land down the road we could stay on.

"But the horses got so tired and needed a rest. We never meant to stay here and we never meant to upset anyone.

"We stopped last night and it wasn't long before we saw neighbours looking out of their windows. Someone called the police but when we explained it to them they let us stay, and it's been great.

"The neighbours here have been good as gold, the kids have come out to have their photos taken with our horses and we were told we were fine to stay just for the night."

Shane Docwra, 20, also from Norwich, added: "The neighbours have been lovely once it was all explained. They've offered us breakfast and everything."

Joyce Hall, 82, who lives next to the site where the group stopped - close to the Horse and Wells pub - said: "When I saw them at first I thought I'd keep an eye on them straight away but in that kind of situation what can you do?

"I lived here for 30, 40 years and I don't remember anyone ever staying here.

"Someone came along to speak to us and explain it, and they haven't been a problem."

The group will be staying at Hackney Marshes tonight, before finishing up in Hyde Park on Saturday.

Their horses will then be collected there by lorries and driven back to Norwich.