A councillor has praised a traveller family for protecting a derelict St Martins school site.

Cllr Steve Davenport today revealed how the Stokes family have caught people trying to break into the Ifton Heath Primary School building since they moved to the site two years ago.

And they have also prevented others from damaging the property.

The controversial decision to base them in the school grounds came after they were evicted from the former Smithfield Market site off Shrewsbury Road in Oswestry to make way for a now defunct multi-million pound leisure complex.

At that time Cllr Davenport said he hoped the family would not have to remain on the school site long-term and the planning permission was for a 12-month period.

But it has since been renewed and another planning application to extend their 'temporary' stay for a further 12 months - which would take their tenure to three years - has now been submitted by Shropshire Council.

Cllr Davenport said: "The fact is we (Shropshire Council) haven't got anywhere else for them to go, but we have got a couple of options in the pipeline.

"The proposal may be for another 12 months but that is a maximum, not a minimum.

"And we rather have them there than have the place empty right now. They have saved the place, caught people trying to break in and they have averted burglars there."

Cllr Davenport added: "I haven't got a problem with them staying there, but for their sake they need something permanent."

The decision to base the family on the site split the community with some voicing concerns that it could become a permanent home, while others said they would do good by caretaking the site after the school closed in 2012.

A decision on the current planning proposal is expected from Shropshire Council by the end of June.