Travellers set up camp in Kingswinford

The group arrived on Tuesday evening at Ketley Fields.

Dudley Council is currently working on legal action to evict the travellers.

A council spokesman said officers hope to move them on 'as quickly as possible'.

Alan Lunt, strategic director for place at Dudley Council, said: “This morning we have responded to reports of an unauthorised traveller encampment on Ketley Fields open space.

"Our officers have carried out an initial assessment and will now follow the necessary legal process to take back possession of the site."

Kingswinford South ward councillor Patrick Harley has criticised the Labour-run Dudley Council following the encampment.

His party, the Conservatives, had planned to build a temporary traveller's site in Budden Road, Coseley. This site would have given police and the council tougher evictions powers.

But these plans were overturned after Labour took power in September, following strong opposition from the Coseley community.

The council, under Labour, is now installing concrete bollards on 'vulnerable' parks while searching for a location for a permanent traveller's site.

But councillor Harley said: "This (incursion in Kingswinford) is a clear example of what we have been saying would happen under Labour if they didn't get their act together, and go with the Budden Road site or find an alternative location for a temporary transit site.

"Now we are seeing parks and open spaces having illegal incursions.

"If we had the temporary traveller's site, travellers would only be able to set up camp for a maximum of two hours, before being told to either go to the temporary transit site or leave the borough."