Travellers camped illegally behind an Oxford toy store say they are goint to stay in the area -- but have been forced to break the law because no permanent site can be found for them.

Caravans on land behind Toys R Us in Botley Road, Oxford

The McDonagh family have parked their five caravans on land at the back of Toys R Us in Botley Road.

They have told police they will be moving on shortly, but unless a place on a permanent site can be found it will be to another illegal location.

Their case is the latest example of the plight faced by travellers and gypsies in Oxfordshire who want to settle but are forced to keep moving because of a shortage of space on designated sites.

The 2004 Housing Act 2004 states that housing authorities must assess the need for traveller sites in their areas and, if necessary, identify land which travellers or councils can buy and build sites.

The McDonaghs told the Oxford Mail their nomadic lifestyle means their children cannot get an education. The family of 20 includes at least five youngsters, from babies to nine-year-olds. A family member, who did not want to give her first name, said: "We don't choose to live like this.

"Our names are down on all the waiting lists for permanent sites but there are none available anywhere. We would like our kids to be able to go to school and have some education.

"We would like a settled place to live. We don't expect the council to magic a site for us but I'm sure they have some waste ground where they could put us until a proper site becomes available.

"None of us can read or write, we have lost out and we want our kids to have an education.

"We understand people have businesses to run and we don't choose to be stuck on their car parks, stopping their customers but we have to live somewhere."

Det Insp Cecilia Agger, of Oxford CID, said: "We are just monitoring them and they have given us a date when they intend to move on. This group has been moving from place to place around the area."

Gary Brewer, of Oxfordshire County Council's gypsy and traveller services, said the McDonaghs are on the waiting list for a space at one of 80 places at the authority's six sites. He said: "This family has been in Oxfordshire 24 months.

"Because no-one is moving off our sites, we can't introduce them to one."

He said the council runs a scoring system to allocate families when pitches become free.

When asked about the school situation, Mr Brewer said: "We have said if they get out of Oxford and move to a rural area, we might be able to accommodate them with schooling."

From March, a consultant will be coming to each local authority in the Thames Valley to talk to travellers to identify if there is a need for more sites, under the 2004 Act.

The McDonaghs' story comes after the Oxford Mail reported recently how another traveller family, the Loveridges, had been kicked off land in Oxford more than 30 times in just two years.

Last week the family were forced to move from Grenoble Road, opposite the Kassam Stadium in Blackbird Leys. Oxford City Council is to take action to issue them with antisocial behaviour orders.