GIPSIES have now set up camp in the district council's car park after moving onto Abbey Park in Pershore from their unauthorised site in Eckington.

The families, in a dozen caravans and assorted vehicles, pulled on to the car park during a council meeting at around 7pm on Tuesday.

They set up camp in Pershore's Abbey Park on Sunday, protesting at their eviction from their own land along the B4080 two weeks ago.

Gipsy Claire Wilson said: "We moved from the park so we wouldn't disrupt the VE day parade (on May 8). The people involved in that fought for us so we decided to move out of respect for them. But we intend to keep protesting until someone from the council comes out to speak to us.

"This is upsetting for everyone involved and we're all feeling the stress of it - the children aren't sleeping properly. We're not using them as scapegoats but they have no access to health care or decent education. All we want is a permanent base so we can make the children a home."

The gipsies want to remain on the Eckington site until their September planning appeal, or swap their land for a more suitable site suggested by Wychavon.

Lynn Evans is headteacher of Abbey Park Middle School, where one of the group's children was taught. She said: "We're horrified by the situation and are extremely concerned about the education of the children. One of the criticisms of travellers is they don't send their children to school, but this group want to do that." Janet Brown, headteacher of Defford-cum-Besford First School said:"It has been a privilege to welcome 12 of the children to our school and a real joy to see their enthusiasm, and to witness the outstanding progress they have made."

Ian Marshall, head of Wychavon's legal services, said the group had refused to comply with a council notice asking them to leave the car park by 10am yesterday. He added: "We are now applying to the county court for an order to regain the land. We aim to have it in court as soon as possible and hope they will take a robust view of the situation."