AMBLECOTE community campaigners have moved a step closer in their bid to stop travellers setting up illegal camps on football pitches in the area.

The Friends of Amblecote have been told they can have £13,500 from the coffers of the Amblecote Community Forum fund to install bollards to prevent caravans and other vehicles being parked up on the playing fields opposite Sainsbury's supermarket at Withymoor.

The group had originally asked for £6,000 to carry out ground works and install a bolted gate.

But at Monday's packed meeting at Withymoor Primary School the Dudley Council-led community-forum decided there was such strength of feeling on the issue and further funds available in the pot so they agreed the Friends could secure a further £7,500 to enable them to install the preferred preventative measures of bollards to try and keep travellers off the site.

Councillor Paul Bradley, who was bombarded with calls and emails from concerned residents when travellers set up camp on the pitches in September 2016, said: "We had a very generous turn out of locals.

"There were about 70 people there and it was said to be the largest Amblecote, Cradley and Wollescote, Lye and Stourbridge North Community Forum attendance ever. I'm very appreciative of people turning up.

"Community forum councillors were very supportive of the application after seeing the amount of support and residents are very supportive of any action that can be taken. They just want something done - they want action.”

Councillor Pete Lowe, leader of Dudley Council, said: "Members deem this as an exceptional case. It was an easy unanimous decision for the community forum to give support for this excellent initiative.

He added: “In Amblecote there were a number of incursions by the travelling community.

"We were very pleased to endorse the proposal that was put forward.

"The council is doing everything it can to support the community to prevent them from the incursions we've had."

Travellers initially parked up on playing fields by a convenience store off Turners Lane, Withymoor, last September before moving onto the fields opposite Sainsbury’s where they were eventually evicted by police.

Relief for residents in Amblecote, however, led to concern in Wordsley and Kingswinford where the group then moved onto afterwards.

Cllr Lowe said the Friends of Amblecote group would need to confirm they are happy to accept the additional funds in order for the grant to be approved by members before the next meeting.