A group of about 16 Gypsy families have applied for planning permission to stay permanently at a site which council leaders said they moved onto illegally.

The families moved onto land they own at Darlingscott, Warwickshire, in March and installed water, an electrical supply and paving.

However, Stratford-on-Avon District Council said the work was illegal and won an injunction to prevent any more.

The families' planning application is expected to be discussed later.

A planning application for the development, on the A429, near Shipston-on-Stour, was sent to the council on 20 March, the day before the Gypsies moved onto the site.

However, planning officers said that application was incomplete and could not be processed.

A spokesman for the Gypsies previously said the council was supposed to be supplying sites for the community, but had failed to do so.