Three Derbyshire schools closed due to travellers on land

Three Derbyshire schools have been closed after travellers moved their caravans on to the grounds.

Parklands, Harrington and Wilsthorpe schools, in Long Eaton, which share the same land, have been affected.

Andrew Rose, 39, deputy head teacher at Wilsthorpe secondary school, said about seven caravans moved onto the shared fields at 19:30 BST on Tuesday.

Mr Rose said Derbyshire Police had "promised to have sufficient presence" for the schools to reopen on Thursday.

Parklands Nursery and Infants, Harrington Junior and Wilsthorpe Community School, which have more than 1,200 students, share a main public access road.

Mr Rose said: "They drove onto the middle of the school playing fields yesterday evening while the gates were open because events were taking place at the schools.

"When I arrived this morning, I saw a police van and car blocking the main drive.

"They said they would promise to have sufficient police presence for all of us to open tomorrow with the caravans still on the fields."

Eight students, who are taking an A-level geography exam, were allowed to sit the test as normal.

Sharon Cully, whose son attends Parklands, said: "I feel so angry towards these travellers entering onto school fields with no consideration for the teachers, staff and children, it's just very upsetting."

Wilsthorpe Community School's website stated that the schools were closed due to "unforeseen circumstances".