Recently, the group moved into Richmound, a village of around 150 people in south-western Saskatchewan, and settled in at a former school.

Ms Didulo and around 15 to 25 of her followers have been at the site for about a week, says Thomas Fougere of Community TV, a local independent news outlet based in nearby Medicine Hat.

Soon after their arrival, the neighbours began pushing them to leave.

Around 100 local residents drove around the school on Sunday in tractors, semi-trucks and other vehicles, trying to drive out the incomers, according to Mr Fougere.

“It’s the only place in the village where there’s a playground and where kids can safely ride their bikes away from the highway,” he said. “It’s become a high tension situation. The town doesn’t want them.”