The county currently has 52 official traveller sites

The Housing Needs Assessment for Gypsies and Travellers report issued in October said the number of pitches needed to increase five-fold by 2011.

Travellers in the area say more needs to be done to find suitable sites.

Spokespeople for the county's local authorities said no final decisions have been made on potential sites yet.

They said they were working with local Gypsy and traveller communities.

'Severe shortage'

Al and Steve, travellers who are staying near the A30 on Whiddon Down, said they go to various meetings and all they hear is, "Yes we must look for some places".

They said when they actually suggest some sites, the councils use a "criteria based approach just to turn every single one down".

Emma Nuttell, of Friends Families and Travellers, said: "The south west, south east and the east of England have the highest levels of unauthorised camping so the south west really has a severe shortage of authorised sites.

"It's disgusting that in the 21st Century Gypsy and traveller families are living on the roadside without access to toilets, electricity or running water- it's a real scandal."

There are currently 52 official sites in Devon, of which three are owned by councils.

The report showed Torridge District Council had no existing council-owned pitches, two authorised privately owned pitches and that there was a shortfall of 20 and that 24 was needed by 2011.

The council said steps were being taken and the process of identifying suitable sites will begin soon and that some funding for pitch provision had been identified in the council's budget for this year.

Mid Devon District Council said there was "no need to identify new sites and that the better option would be for existing sites to be extended, subject to obtaining necessary Planning approvals".