Travellers leave a puppy tied to tree

Travellers who set up camp on playing fields in the Midlands have have left - leaving a trail of mess and a sick puppy behind.

But the convoy of caravans is believed to have today set up camp on land next to Junction 10 of the M6.

Mattresses, old tyres, gas canisters and clothes have been left on playing fields in Wednesfield, where the group had plagued residents for more than a week.

But, at 9pm last night, the final caravans rolled off the land, just hours before Wolverhampton City Council was due in court to seek an eviction order to remove them.

This morning the matter was in the hands of Walsall Council, after reports they had moved on to land near the motorway.

Court action to remove the group from Wednesfield was originally due to take place on Monday, but was brought forward to today after the number of caravans there doubled to 24.

Wolverhampton City Council today said that they were now withdrawing the legal action to reclaim the troubled site.

An abandoned puppy was left behnd along with the rubbish.

He was today picked up by animal lover Jonathan Thompson, aged 28 from Penn, who had heard of his plight and has now taken the puppy to the vets for treatment.

Tim Clark, spokesman for Wolverhampton City Council, said: "Our staff are now on site to carry out the clear up. We estimate this will take one to two days. I can confirm a puppy was left tied to a tree.

"They have also left a lot of rubbish on the site, including rubbish bags, industrial residue, tree prunings, branches, some excrement and faeces."