STOURBRIDGE MP Margot James said she would be urging authorities to move swiftly to evict travellers who set up camp at a Withymoor park last night (Tuesday).

Residents reported seeing around 12 caravans, trailers and vans moving onto Brompton Park at around 8pm - one even said they'd seen a digger on the site.

This latest unauthorised encampment comes just two weeks after a group of travellers who had set up camp on playing fields next to Sainsbury's were evicted.

One angry resident told the News: "There'll be no local parks left for the kids to play on. It's an absolute joke." 

MP for the area, Margot James, said she had spoken to Dudley Council this morning about this latest settlement and she added: "Officers will be commencing court action to obtain a possession order as soon as possible.

"I will be encouraging the relevant authorities to take all action necessary to ensure the travellers are moved on as soon as possible."

Amblecote councillor Paul Bradley had hoped the incursion two weeks ago, which cost nearly £5,000 in clean-up costs, would be the last of the season and he said that likely by the time the next season started Dudley Council's transit site in Coseley would be up running - enabling the authorities to swifly move on groups who settle on land illegally.

The planned transit site, which will cost around £280,000, will comprise pitches for around 40 caravans and it is expected to be up and running by early 2019.

Boroughs which have transit sites report fewer incursions by traveller groups as anyone setting up an unathorised camp can be asked to move to the dedicated short-stay site immediately or be ordered out of the local authority area altogether.

Dudley Council bosses believe having such a site within the Dudley borough will significantly reduce the problem of groups settling illegally on parks and public open spaces.