TRAVELLERS have smashed through a gate to set up an illegal camp in a Bromsgrove school field.

More than 20 caravans are now parked at North Bromsgrove High School’s top field after the group broke through a secure gate at around 10pm on Monday, August 2.

The same site has only just been cleaned up after travellers set up camp last month. They were eventually moved on with a court order but left rubbish and caused major disruption for high school pupils.

It is now an on-going problem for nearby residents and land owners in the area after sites near the town’s NEW College and in Wychbold were also targeted in recent weeks.

Councillor Bill Newnes, who lives at a property in Planetree Close overlooking the site, said: “A large group has been near the Artrix for a week so it may be the same group. I am disappointed with BAM FM which runs the site because I was told they would secure the site and stop this happening again. Travellers will take advantage of any situation but they have broken the gate post to gain entry. That is trespassing and vandalism so why can’t we do anything about it? Something needs to be done to stop this happening.”

Another resident who asked not to be named said: "This has really got out of control. The field has only just been cleaned up, it is almost like the gipsies are saying thanks for clearing our mess up for us."

A spokesman for BAM FM, which manages the site at North Bromsgrove High School, School Drive, said: "BAM is currently working with the police and Worcestershire County Council to resolve this situation, which follows the eviction of the travellers from another local site. Problems such as this require several bodies to co-ordordinate their responses effectively. We will resolve this as quickly as possible as we did before very successfully."