The cost of tackling illegal camping by travellers in the Dudley borough this summer, has risen to more than 80 thousand pounds.

Between June and August – Dudley Council has had to deal with 12 unauthorised encampments across different sites.

The figure is set to rise further as clean-ups at the most recent illegal camps at Withymoor and Amblecote have resulted in a £5,000 plus bill.

A report to the council says the camps have led to heightened tensions in the settled community and extra workload for the police.