ENFORCEMENT action may be taken by Kirklees Council to remove gypsies from Leeds Road playing fields car park.

Around half a dozen caravans and vehicles arrived at the site over the weekend.

A council spokeswoman said a needs assessment would be carried out and enforcement action to remove them from the site would take place if appropriate.

Kirklees Council has also revealed that it spent £26,000 last year on 15 gypsy camps within the area.

The money has been spent on legal fees, clean up costs and increased security measures to protect council land.

Last month two appeals over controversial gypsy sites in Huddersfield were withdrawn.

The National Gypsy Council said Kirklees Council had failed to rule on the sites for 11 families at Bow Street, Springwood, and 23 families at Old Fieldhouse Lane, off Leeds Road.

Last week Kirklees councillors met with others from the region and formed the West Yorkshire Accommodation and Wider Needs Assessment.

The group is to look at the long-running problem of finding suitable camps for travellers and gypsies.

Before councils can order gypsies to leave a site they need to show they are there without consent; make enquiries regarding the general health, welfare and children's education; ensure that the Human Rights Acts 1998 has been fully complied with and follow a set procedure in terms of proving ownership of land and details of the illegal encampment that will enable them to successfully obtain the necessary authority from the courts.