Travellers set up camp on Birmingham's Alexander Stadium car park

Travellers moved on to land just after a new children's playpark was revealed in Perry Barr

Travellers have set up a large camp opposite Alexander Stadium.

A group of caravans and other vehicles drove onto land just off Church Road, near the Commonwealth Games venue, in Perry Barr, at the beginning of the week.

The council has served an eviction notice to vacant the site by Monday (March 31).

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A council spokesperson said: "Birmingham City Council is committed to actively protecting its land and will take steps to recover this land where unauthorised encampments encroach upon it."

Councillor Jon Hunt (Perry Barr) said the travellers had moved close to refurbished playpark which had just reopened after four years.

Coun Hunt said: "It's a nuisance and really antisocial when the children's playground has just been reopened.

"They are simply hogging the car park getting in the way of the contractors who are trying to finish off the work in the park.

"We are going to need measures to protect the car park from caravans."

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The old playground was closed four years ago for the Commonwealth Games and was meant to be restored straight after the Games.

Lib Dem councillors together with community groups ended up having to campaign for three years to get the playground and the park back.

Perry Park is home to the Alexander Athletics Stadium, the GMAC High Performance Centre and a BMX track. There is also a allotments, playing fields, a reservoir with access to the canal.

Travellers have occupied the same site several times in recent years.