Hundreds of gipsies are currently being evicted after they set up a huge illegal travellers camp of 50 caravans in the grounds of a private school and a neighbouring park.

Some of the group set up camp in the grounds of the £10,500-a-year King Henry VIII School in the upmarket suburb of Earlsdon, in Coventry, where poet Philip Larkin was educated, while the other half set up their camp next door on the fields of Spencer Park.

Coventry City Council told MailOnline the eviction process started this afternoon with the help of West Midlands Police.

Hundreds of gipsies set up camp in the grounds of the £10,500-a-year King Henry VIII School and the neighbouring Spencer Park (pictured) in the upmarket suburb of Earlsdon, in Coventry

Coventry City Council said the eviction process started this afternoon with the help of West Midlands Police

King Henry VIII School confirmed the gipsies moved onto the school by breaking a fence.

The trail of damage included slashed cricket nets, worth several hundred pounds, which were erected on the playing field in Spencer Park.

A school spokesman said: 'They moved onto the school playing fields on Friday. The school contacted a security firm who told them they needed to leave and they did.

'There was no significant damage. Thankfully, the ground was reasonably dry and only required a normal clean-up.

'However, they have caused some damage to our facilities in Spencer Park. They slashed our cricket nets and broke a fence.'

King Henry VIII School confirmed the gipsies moved onto the school playing fields by breaking a fence

West Midlands Police and Coventry City Council served the gipsies with an eviction notice this morning

It is believed the majority of the convoy of gipsies arrived on July 12 in time for the nearby Kenilworth Horse Fair, in Warwickshire.

Thousands from across Britain and Ireland attended the annual event which was held over two days last weekend.

Councillor Allan Andrews, Conservative representative for the Earlsdon ward, said yesterday: 'A needs assessment has been carried out and there will be a notice to leave served on them.

'This is the largest incursion we've had for some time in Coventry. We've asked from a ward perspective what measures can be put in place.

'Things like stakes just don't work, what we need is things like mounds. This wasn't predicted. The damage they've caused is going to cost a lot of money to put right. I don't think residents will forgive a third incursion.

'I'd like to see a large array of weaponry.

'I'd much rather say to a traveller group 'you're here illegally, leave within 24 hours and we won't start using powers.'

'That would include a fine per caravan and charging for fixing the land.

Some of the gipsy caravans have occupied Spencer Park in Earlsdon, near Coventry for weeks

'There is significant public concern about this issue and we need a long-term solution, rather than the current approach of being totally reactionary.

'I know that the council and its officers work swiftly to deal with illegal encampments, but the current approach is clearly not working.'

Last week travellers caused outrage when they moved onto the city's War Memorial Park, which commemorates the brave soldiers who died in the First World War.

Several other illegal camps have been set up in the city over recent weeks, costing the council thousands in legal fees and clean up costs.

Another traveller group have also set up in Luscombe Road, Henley Green, the council said.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: 'An eviction order was served by the Police earlier today and travellers are now moving off the site.'

It is believed the majority of the convoy of gipsies - which is the largest number ever seen in the city - arrived on July 12 in time for the nearby Kenilworth Horse Fair, Warwickshire

CLEAN-UP IN WOLVERHAMPTON AFTER MATTRESSES, CLOTHING AND HUMAN WASTE WERE LEFT AT GIPSY SITE

Mattresses, clothing, cardboard boxes and even human waste were among the filth left scattered by a group of travellers at an illegal camp near Wolverhampton.

The travellers were at a site in Wednesfield for the majority of last week and set up a camp of over 30 caravans - and leaving behind a mess which has outraged the community.

Phil Bateman, the councillor for Wednesfield North, said: 'I am not at all happy about this.'

Mattresses, clothing, cardboard boxes and even human waste were among the filth left at this camp

The travellers were at a site in Wednesfield, near Wolverhampton, for the majority of last week and set up a camp of over 30 caravans leaving a mess behind which has outraged the community

'It's disgusting and I think there needs to be a debate with the local authority and the police about how this came to happen.

'The way in which the city council and the police acted and the laws that are in place needs to be clarified.

'I am not happy about this as it stands now and I need a lot of convincing that the balance was right.

'I live in Wednesfield North and I've tried my level best over decades to ensure we have good services and places to enjoy. It has not been a pleasant place to be this last week.'

Residents were left 'horrified' at the clutter and disarray and demanded it be cleaned up as soon as possible

The travellers camped on the field for around six days and left on Saturday night after being served with a council notice.

Residents say they were left 'horrified' at the clutter and disarray of the park and demanded it be cleaned up as soon as possible.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: 'How are we meant to accept this?

'As law abiding residents who pay council tax it's disgraceful to think that our money will be used to clean this up.

'I walked over there yesterday to have a look for myself and I was mortified.

'Everything you could possibly imagine has been left there with no regard for the surrounding residents and their welfare.'