TRAVELLERS, playing cat and mouse with Dudley Council, moved out of a Halesowen park on Tuesday night and broke into playing fields just a mile away.

Most of the illegal campers left Hurst Green Park at about 10pm, and yesterday just one small group with a donkey were still there.

They went just before Dudley Council could obtain a repossession order 11 days after around 50 caravans plus vehicles invaded the park, but many set up camp on Birdys playing fields, off Nimmings Road.

Angry residents said police ignored their calls that travellers were breaking padlocks off the barriers at the entrance to the playing fields and failed to respond.

One concerned resident of St Paul’s Drive, who did not want to be named, said: “I called the police who said they would probably go round and have a chat with them, but they didn’t come.

“They caused criminal damage to two barriers – it’s just not right.”

Around 30 caravans have moved onto the playing fields, which back onto bungalows, which are mainly for elderly and vulnerable adults, in St Paul’s Drive.

Residents have complained of being kept awake at night by the sound of generators and noise from loud music, barking dogs, screaming children and people shouting.

Their spokeswoman said the move from the park to the playingfields was “predictable” and slammed the authorities for not stopping them.

Halesowen North councillor Hilary Bills said she was furious the police had again failed to use their powers when the travellers caused criminal damage.

She vowed there will be a “high level meeting” with all the West Midlands councils affected by travellers and West Midlands Police.

There are also illegal camps on the Flood Street car park in Dudley town centre, Wollaston Community Centre and Bumble Hole Nature Reserve.

Cllr Bills said: “This is a traumatic time for Dudley residents and officers. There has been inconsistency in the approach of the police. This has been a costly exercise at a time when police and council resources are reduced.

“We should be working together to ensure this doesn’t happen again in Dudley and our neighbouring councils.”

Cllr Bills said the clean-up operation at Hurst Green Park would begin once the last caravan had gone and the park will be made secure again.

Councillor Gaye Partridge, cabinet member for housing, added: “I assure people we are doing everything we can, and working with police, to move them on as quickly as possible and share people’s frustrations about these illegal settlements.”