Swift action is being demanded after travellers set up camp next to a Dudley primary school.

Caravans moved on to the field, off Aintree Way on Sunday. Concerned residents contacted Dudley North MP Ian Austin, who immediately contacted Dudley Council and the police before going to visit the site, next to Milking Bank Primary School.

Mr Austin, who has previously met the council and the police to discuss what more can be done to prevent travellers using parks and community facilities in Dudley, is calling for the government to give councils more powers to quickly deal with camps on parks and public open spaces.

He also wants the council to try to prevent sites being occupied again.

“I think it is completely unacceptable to see parks and community facilities occupied by traveller camps and I want the council and the police to do all they can to move them on as quickly as possible," he said.

“My job is to stand up for local people and I don’t see why they should not be able to use their local park.

“I also want the council to do all it can to prevent parks in my constituency being occupied again this year and I want the government to give councils more powers to deal with illegal sites more quickly.”

Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member for environmental services said: “Dudley Council is liaising with the police to take urgent action to move the travellers on from Milking Bank as quickly as possible.”

The school is open as usual but parents were informed that the field would be out of use "until the situation with travellers is resolved".