POLICE have ousted a group of travellers who invaded a field at Alvechurch - only for them to move on to Redditch and then to Bromsgrove.

Occupiers of 20 caravans, believed to belong to travellers from Surrey, caused damage to a gate after shaking off the padlock to get into the field off Redditch Road, Alvechurch, just before 11am on Sunday.

West Mercia Police served them with a notice under Section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, which gives officers powers to remove trespassers from land if damage or intimidation has occurred.

Sgt Richard Field, of the Bromsgrove police Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: "They left the field, complying with the notice, just after 2pm but moved on to Abbey Park Golf Club in Redditch - and last night the same group arrived just before 8pm on a grassed area at the Topaz Business Park in Lickey End.

"There has been no damage, intimidation or problems caused there but the landowners' agents are now going to instruct bailiffs to remove them."

Sgt Field added: "We are getting quite a few travelling groups in our area at the moment but we don't know why.

"The travellers now on Topaz Business Park have told me they are from Surrey and plan to remain in this area for the summer."