Yate Common in South Gloucestershire, known locally as "Road to Nowhere", regularly appears in the series and is popular with dog walkers and children.

South Gloucestershire Council is looking at a proposal to use the common in its long-term planning strategy to meet a shortage of travellers' sites.

Residents have opposed the move, saying it should be protected.

Lin Kendall. chairwoman of the Friends of the Common group, said: "The land is a well-loved local resource. There are very few places people can go now where they feel relatively safe and where children can do what they want, and the common is one of them."

The council has two authorised residential locations and about 30 private family sites.

"The 'Road to Nowhere' site is just one of the inspector's suggestions on a wide range of issues and there no plans for the site at this stage," said the spokeswoman.