Seven areas in Devon have been shortlisted for traveller sites

Many of the problems have been in Exeter and city MP Ben Bradshaw has called the meeting, which will be held with police and local councils.

There have been about a dozen evictions of travellers this year.

Up to 3,000 travellers are thought to be in Devon in any one year, but Devon County Council said only 200 of those occupied unauthorised sites.

Tighter legislation

Evictions of travellers from sites in and around Exeter this year have included people being moved on at Pinhoe, Redhayes, Beacon Lane, Ludwell Valley and Sowton.

Mr Bradshaw said he had been contacted by a number of local residents expressing concern.

During the Pinhoe incident, a convoy of caravans and lorries moved on to council playing fields in July.

It was two weeks before they could be evicted, leaving behind 10 tonnes of rubbish.

The city council is calling for tighter legislation to deal with the associated problems and pursuing travellers for costs in clearing a site.

At the same, Devon County Council is still trying to find a suitable permanent transit site for travellers, after applications at Haldon, near Exeter, and Totnes were refused earlier this year.

The county council said it hoped to reveal this month its intended site for a travellers transit camp in the county. It is looking at 12 sites, with a shortlist of seven.

It said: "Devon has worked hard to develop a workable solution to what is often both an emotive and sensitive issue.

"We work closely with our adjoining counties to develop a productive and proactive approach based on government's guidelines for good practice and many years of experience.

"We aim to find solutions through negotiation and liaison, using legal action as a last resort."