A group of travellers have illegally set up camp near to a war memorial at a historic beauty spot for the second time in just a month.
Around 30 caravans as well as vans and 4x4s swarmed onto the popular Barr Beacon site in Great Barr, Birmingham, late on Sunday night.
Council chiefs had been calling for a permanent injunction to prevent them from returning after more than 120 travellers flocked there on September 15.
But residents living nearby watched the group break through metal gates before flooding onto the site which is popular with families and dog walkers.
A group of travellers have illegally set up camp near to a war memorial at a historic beauty spot for the second time in just a month
Around 30 caravans as well as vans and 4x4s swarmed onto the popular Barr Beacon site in Great Barr, Birmingham, late on Sunday night
Residents living nearby watched the group break through metal gates (above) before flooding onto the site which is popular with families and dog walkers
They have set up again close to the 113-year-old war memorial which was erected to honour soldiers from the Boer Wars.
There are also health fears over the piles of rubbish mounting up on the 60-acre greenbelt site.
One resident, who spotted the travellers while driving past on Monday morning, said: ‘At half past ten last night, there was a huge convoy of travellers attempting to get on to Barr Beacon again.
‘Motorists were having to avoid running some of them over in the dark as one huge caravan had got wedged on the road and they were having to push it.
They have set up again close to the 113-year-old war memorial (above), which was erected to honour soldiers from the Boer Wars
Councillors Adrian Andrew and Chris Towe, from Walsall Council, said: ‘What more can we say? When are they going to leave the area?’
‘I’ve driven past this morning and it looks like the gates have been broken again and that they did make it on.
‘By all accounts, this is the same group that were in Aldridge and they may be the same ones who were on the war memorial a couple of weeks ago.
‘I’m just wondering what the council and police are prepared to do now as it is becoming a massive problem in the area and the travellers seem to be able to do what they want leaving tax payers to foot the clean-up bill.’
Councillors Adrian Andrew and Chris Towe, from Walsall Council, said: ‘What more can we say? When are they going to leave the area?
‘Someone needs to speak to them and find out. I hope they will be gone by Wednesday or Thursday.
‘It’s the mess they leave after they are gone. If they came and were respectful and tided up, it would almost be OK – almost.
Council chiefs had been calling for a permanent injunction to prevent them from returning after more than 120 travellers flocked there on September 15 (pictured)
‘But they just don’t. We have been out to them before, not even in an official capacity, and been sworn at with a four-letter word. We hope they respect the war memorial.’
A spokesman for Walsall Council said: ‘Our community protection team are aware of the unauthorised encampment at Barr Beacon.
‘The team will continue to follow the agreed council and West Midlands Police joint protocol to secure the land back as soon as possible.’
It is not the first time travellers have targeted the site.
In December 2015, around 150 gipsies moved onto the land before being forced to move.
In June this year, 25 caravans set up an illegal camp on open space just off Beacon Road, over the Bank Holiday weekend.