TRAVELLERS illegally camped near a Worcestershire village should clear up and go at once says one of the region's MPs.

It would be a travesty of the law if they were to stay at the site near Eckington, after a High Court ruling that they should go, said West Worcestershire MP Sir Michael Spicer.

The gipsies moved on to the land during the May Bank Holiday last year, laying on water and electricity and putting up boundary fences without planning permission.

Appeal

The 20 families wanted to stay until after the result of a planning appeal next September, but High Court judge Mr Justice Tugendhat has ordered them to leave the site by April.

Commenting on the judge's decision this week, Sir Michael said they should leave immediately.

"I have said from the beginning that it is essential for the upholding of the rule of law that planning rules should apply equally to every citizen and to all sections of our society," he said.

"Now that the High Court has made its ruling it is essential that the travellers vacate the site at Eckington immediately.

"It would be a travesty of the law if they were to stay until their planning application has been heard this September."

Sir Michael said it would do the cause of travellers no good at all if they had any intention of flouting the law.

The gipsies remained on the site after being refused retrospective planning permission by Wychavon District Council, which then issued an enforcement notice.

A planning inspector subsequently dismissed their appeal over the enforcement notice and gave them five months to leave the site.

The second appeal relates to the refusal of retrospective planning permission.

Mr Justice Tugendhat said that if he allowed the gipsies to stay until September he would be depriving the inspector's decision of any real effect.

"Now that the law has spoken, they must clear up and go at once," said Sir Michael.