Travellers move on to Dudley Leisure Centre car park days after being forced off nearby cinema complex

Around six caravans have camped up at the leisure centre, arriving during Tuesday night, a day after more than 40 caravans were moved off the Showcase Cinema complex at Castlegate.

Police were present at the cinema to 'keep the peace', but as it is privately owned by Legal & General Investment Management, bailiffs were requested to order the travellers off the site. They later moved to the leisure centre.

Councillor Cathryn Bayton called for swift action to be taken. She said: "It is obviously not an appropriate site for travellers to be camping on a public car park that is for public use.

"A swift resolution needs to be addressed, as this isn't acceptable, especially with two incidents happening one after another in such a short space of time. I have worked in Dudley for nearly 30 years and never known travellers to camp on the leisure centre car park."

Travellers have also been at Dudley Zoo, The Black Country Living Museum and moved onto a site in Great Bridge where they were spotted on wasteland in Mill Street.

Councillor Margaret Aston previously said the council were looking at the issue of travellers and working to tackle future incidents.