Travellers set up camp on Aston university's pitches

Seven caravans settled at Aston University's Outdoor Recreation Centre on the border of Walsall and Great Barr after forcing their way through two locked gates.

They have set up camp on one of the six grass pitches at the site in Birmingham Road, which caters for sports such as rugby, football and cricket. Court action has now been launched in a bid to evict the group.

It is the latest in a long line of travellers camps set up in Walsall borough this year.

Birmingham Road resident Dave Cox, aged 67, said he believed it was the third time that travellers had settled at the same grounds in the last six months.

He said: "I noticed them on Monday night after coming back home from being away for a few days.

"They have been on the car park before but this time they were on the football pitch.

"In the past, they've stayed seven to 10 days and they have been a nuisance, leaving their rubbish behind."

The university said it had been in constant contact with police to prepare for a lawful eviction of the travellers as soon as possible.

Aston University spokesman David Farrow added: "We have been to court and a notice of intent to evict has been served.

"In the meantime we have engaged private security to help us protect the property and to ensure that our students and external customers can continue to use the facilities."

He said the university was ensuring that the other five pitches were being used to the maximum, and sports teams and clubs who use the facilities have been reassured that they are still able to use them safely. The latest camp moved onto the site on Saturday.

It comes after it emerged yesterday that a convoy of caravans had stopped on land off Silver Court Gardens, in Brownhills.

It is believed this site is not owned by Walsall Council.

Wooden bollards were installed at Holland Park, in Chester Road North, Brownhills, to try and tackle the problem.

A court order was issued to move on a caravan illegally parked on council land near Farmbridge Road, Bentley, on Friday.

It comes after a separate legal notice to evict travellers from the Dolphin House car park was agreed on the Thursday – although the caravan moved a short distance to Goscote Lane, Goscote.

The town has become a hotbed for travellers, with the problem escalating over the last few months.

The authority has been forced to go to court orders to get caravans moved on, only for them to relocate to other sites and sometimes even return to the original land they unlawfully occupied.

Council bosses have been working with West Midlands Police to put a stop to unauthorised camps in the borough.

Among the hotspots has been Delves Green Common, where caravans settled twice within weeks.