GIPSIES who set up a protest camp in Pershore's civic centre car park have moved on to playing fields in Beckford.

The group was evicted from an unauthorised site along the B4080 Tewkesbury Road, near Eckington, around three weeks ago. They had moved on to the land, which they own, last May, but a retrospective planning application was refused by Wychavon District Council. The gipsies had wanted to stay on site until an appeal in September.

Last week, they set up camp in Pershore's Abbey Park to protest and, days later, moved on to the car park of Wychavon's own offices before arriving in Beckford on Sunday. They mistakenly believed the land was council-owned, but it actually belongs to villagers.

Gipsy Claire Wilson said: "We thought this site was council-owned and we didn't intend to upset anyone else. We just want to be allowed back on our own land in Eckington - we had everything we needed there but now we have nothing."

She added that some of the group's children had returned to Defford First School, and the group intended to stay in Wychavon so they could continue with classes.

Rupert Ellis, chairman of the playing fields' trustees, said a meeting was planned for last night.

"Villagers are concerned about this development and people are asking what is happening," he said.

"Hopefully, we can comment further after the meeting."

Ian Marshall, Wychaon's head of legal services, confirmed the gipsies were ordered to pay the authority £500 costs by Worcester County Court on Tuesday. It followed Wychavon's attempts to reclaim possession of their car park.

Mr Marshall added: "These trespass situations are a ploy to allow the gipsies back on land in Eckington, but we are not prepared to do that. The situation has been extensively considered by a planning inspector and three High Court judges. We would be vulnerable to legal action by Eckington residents if we allow the gipsies back on."