TRAVELLERS who have set up camp on a Dudley park will be moved "as soon as possible" after the council enlisted bailiffs.

Dudley Council says it has a "zero tolerance attitude towards unauthorised encampment" after the travellers moved onto Priory Park late on Sunday (May 21) evening.

It served the group with a notice to move on Monday morning (May 22) and said today (Wednesday May 24) that it is taking action to move them on.

Councillor Laura Taylor-Childs, Dudley Council's cabinet member for housing and safer communities, said: “A small group of travellers moved onto Priory Park late Sunday evening and our enforcement officers were there first thing Monday morning to serve notice.

"Our officers have been working with bailiffs and will be moving them on as soon as possible.

"Dudley has a zero tolerance attitude towards unauthorised encampments and I would like to reassure residents that we are taking swift action to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.”

Dudley North MP Marco Longhi said he has raised the issue with the police and council officers after being contacted by concerned residents.

He said: ""This is unacceptable.

"This space is for locals to use for leisure purposes, it is not for travellers' caravans.

"I am onto the police and council enforcement officers."

Dudley Council has a transit travellers site on Budden Road in Coseley, which should allow unauthorised traveller’s sites to be moved on more quickly and easily which would not be the case if there was no site available.