Travellers accused of dumping rubbish at a layby could soon be stopped in their tracks, writes Roseena Parveen.

The county council is to investigate claims that travellers often illegally camp at the layby near at Nuneham Courtenay, on the Oxford to Henley road, leaving huge amounts of rubbish in their wake.

County councillor Roy Tudor-Hughes is campaigning for it to be closed or narrowed to make it harder to park caravans at the site, north of the Golden Balls roundabout. The county's highways and road safety sub-committee agreed to investigate the possibility has asked officers to make it a top priority.

Cllr Tudor-Hughes told the committee: "Unlawful encampments are a big problem for south Oxfordshire. We have had immense problems with those who act illegally with no regard for the people who live here. Travellers leave the most horrendous amounts of rubbish." There were 63 unlawful encampments in south Oxfordshire in the year up to April, according to county council records. In the Vale, Cherwell and West Oxfordshire combined, there were 59.

Mr Tudor-Hughes said: "Clearly it is more of a problem for us in south Oxfordshire than elsewhere in the county. Berinsfield and Dorchester were the worst-hit areas." He welcomed the committee's decision, and added: "There are some members of the highways committee who think travellers can do no wrong. But I believe there was all-party support for these changes."

The county council is also to investigate closure of a layby near Berinsfield after complaints of fly-tipping.