The illegal site has been a travellers' home for three years

The travellers had been told by the local authority they could stay at Haldon Hill because plans to find legal sites had been withdrawn.

But following a meeting with the Devon County Council solicitor on Friday, the council has agreed to serve an enforcement notice.

The decision has been welcomed by a local parish council and a Devon MP.

Local opposition

Richard Younger-Ross, the MP for Teignbridge, met the county solicitor together with representatives from Kenn Parish Council and Shillingford Parish Council.

He said: "There is still a lot of work to be done to find transit sites and permanent sites, and that work is ongoing, but the council have accepted the present situation on Haldon can continue no longer."

About 30 travellers have been living on the illegal site at the Devon beauty site for about three years.

Devon County Council had drawn up plans for transit sites near Shillingford Abbot, Ipplepen, Denbury and Fremington, but withdrew them all in December following fierce opposition from local residents.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is consulting on a new obligation for councils to find appropriate sites, but Devon councillor, Des Shadrick, says the government does not realise the level of opposition.