Freedom campers using a council car park are causing tempers to fly in Christchurch.

The short-stayers have riled up a group of residents after staying on public land in New Brighton for days at a time, with some residents claiming there have been nights with 20 vehicles present.

The carpark sits on the corner of Beresford St and Union Rd in New Brighton and is just a stone's throw from the beach.

Resident Diane Greenfield lives next door and is at the end of her tether.

"We've seen them peeing on the fence and everything," she says. "They've been really loud, especially around midnight, they're back over the fence from our bedroom window."

Ms Greenfield says they've going to the toilet in the park, leaving rubbish, and claims a French tourist went as far as to threaten her one evening.

"The guy was yelling over the fence and making threats and we had to say to the kids, 'Keep away from the windows in case they try to smash them,'" she says. "I shouldn't have to live like that."

Most backpackers had cleared out this morning, but one German tourist said she'd heard about the site from friends in Queenstown.

"We've heard that they have a problem that we stay here and want us to leave, but we asked the police and they said it's okay," she says. "We try not to be loud and we keep our rubbish with us."

The backpacker, who gave her name as Shirin, says she checked with the council to ensure she wasn't breaking the rules.

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Freedom campers annoy Christchurch residents