Travellers from Leicestershire and Cambridgeshire are queuing up to move into South Staffordshire, an inquiry was told.

Jim and Ann Lee want to add eight pitches to their travellers’ site in Oak Tree Park, Featherstone, which has 15 static caravans.

South Staffordshire Council rejected the scheme as “inappropriate” for the  green belt, which prompted the couple to appeal to the planning inspectorate.

At the inquiry yesterday, Mrs Lee said 30 travellers wanted a space at the New Road site, including her daughters and their families.

The grandmother, who has owned the site with her husband for 20 years, said: “My daughters can’t get a place on a permanent site so they have to move on every couple of weeks.

“My grandchildren don’t get much education.”

She said the waiting list included families from Leicester and Cambridgeshire.

Councillor Bob Cope, who represents Featherstone and Shareshill, said the council could not approve a green belt application just to bring a family closer together.

The inquiry at South Staffordshire Council’s headquarters in Codsall continues.