Jeremy Clarkson rushed to his Cotswold pub to find police surrounding its car park after it was filled with travellers ahead of pony and trap races in the area.

Locals were warned by police to stay away from the The Farmer’s Dog following reports of a large gathering of horse-drawn carriages arriving before 8am in the pub’s car park.

The former Top Gear host arrived while police cars where stilled parked outside his pub saying it was a ‘good job’ the travellers had come early before most of the punters tend to arrive. 

One vehicle was seized for having no insurance but Thames Valley Police reiterated that ‘pony and trap racing is not an illegal activity’ and they were at the pub to ‘monitor for any dangerous or criminal activity’.

The pub in the Cotswold village of Burford was opened last August by the TV presenter who bought the site for £1million, and is based around 12 miles from Diddly Squat Farm on which his Prime Video series Clarkson’s Farm is based on.

A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police, said: ‘Thames Valley Police were deployed to the scene of the A40 area of Witney due to a privately organised pony and trap event that had gathered.

‘Pony and trap racing is not an illegal activity, however we have been on scene to maintain the safety of the public and monitor for any dangerous or criminal activity by those taking part in the event.

‘The disruption to the road network was minimal and the event has now finished. One vehicle was seized for having no insurance.

‘We will always work to maintain public safety and minimise the disruption to our communities and take robust action where we have legal grounds to do so.’

After speaking with police at the scene, Oxfordshire County Councillor Liam Walker posted on Facebook saying that the gathering was due to take place in Buckinghamshire but ‘clearly the location was changed early this morning’. 

‘It is not actually illegal to carry out this sort of activity so the legal powers available to the police are very limited,’ he said.

‘Police officers are still on the scene whilst the last 20 or so vehicles leave the pub car park. The pub is planning to reopen from 1pm.’

He added that ‘it is expected another such event is to be held tomorrow morning but that location is currently not known’.

Thames Valley Police had issued a Section 34 dispersal order in the neighbouring county Buckinghamshire after receiving intelligence of an ‘unauthorised’ pony and trap event expected to take place this weekend.

The order is currently in place effect in the Gerrards Cross and Chalfont St Peter area and is in effect until 3am on Monday.

The force posted on social media: ‘We have an extensive policing operation in place to implement preventative measures and ensure public safety. Our officers will take action where necessary if criminal offences are identified.’

Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber also posted saying: ‘Out in Chalfont St Peter before dawn this morning, talking to officers in the ground policing the dispersal order that is in place over this weekend to prevent disruption to the community from pony and trap racing on the A413.

‘There’s a large policing operation in place over the weekend and a significant police presence to enforce the dispersal order.’

However, it is believed that the event moved location early this morning to avoid the dispersal order and instead took place on the A40 in Oxfordshire next to Mr Clarkson’s pub.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that the Farmer’s Dog could be forced to close its car park that allows it to welcome hundreds of punters at a time because it’s next to a historic grave.

The car park is adjacent to a listed ancient monument, a 1,400-year-old burial mound containing the remains of an Anglo-Saxon warlord, and there are suggestions it could be damaged by the number of cars now arriving.

As soon as Clarkson acquired the pub lease he knew he needed to increase its parking capacity – because of what happened previously when he opened his hugely popular Diddly Squat Farm Shop near Chadlington, and it featured in the show.

Fans soon came in their hundreds causing traffic jams with punters parked for miles around on the grass verges of narrow single-tracks, blocking roads and causing fury among neighours.

Large queues at Clarkson’s farm shop are not uncommon, with many fans often waiting for hours to get a glimpse inside what has now become a tourist attraction. 

The TV presenter – who recently had a heart operation due to stress – recently spoke of how desperate the pub trade was, listing a range of difficulties he has had since opening.

Clarkson previously said how his pub – run only on British produce – is a ‘total disaster’ behind the scenes as thefts, traffic chaos and toilet nightmares run rampant.

When the Farmer’s Dog first opened August many had travelled from far and wide to the picturesque spot for a chance of a pint, with the car park rammed within an hour of its opening.

The running of the pub is expected to feature in the fourth season of Clarkson’s Farm with it being heavily filmed during its renovation and opening.