Taylor Swift's security team have been accused of harassing volunteers working near her Rhode Island mansion.

The 'I Knew You Were Trouble' hitmaker's private group of bodyguards reportedly lashed out at workers from the East Beach Association on May 26 as they tried to clean up garbage near the properly line of her idyllic home, which she purchased for $17 million last year.

An anonymous volunteer said the area near Taylor's mansion is the worst spot for gathering rubbish and doesn't understand why her security were so rude.

They told RadarOnline.com: ''We were just trying to do our job. We were out that day handing out trash bags on the beach and trying to help people keep the beach clean.

''People in high school go down there and hang out, and all of my friends who surf love to go there too. There's always beer bottles and trash back there.

''When we got near the property, close to five security guards in reflective vests that said 'Security' on the back came down and got really mad at us.

''They told us it was private property and that we had to leave. We were just trying to do our jobs and they were really rude.''

While appreciating the fact Taylor, 23, has been helpful in the South Country area, the source believes the singer still needs to understand it has been used by others long before she moved there.

They added: ''I get that she's entitled to have her privacy and I know that she's been going around to local businesses and stuff, which is cool and I really appreciate that.

''It's just about trying to strike that balance because everyone else has been using that beach for years.''