ANGRY parents at a Southampton junior school are demanding urgent action to evict a group of travellers from fields next to the school.

Worried parents say the travellers have made it impossible for their children to use nearby sports fields.

Some are even threatening to take their children out of St Mark's Junior School in Shirley until the travellers are moved on.

This week, police were called after an air rifle pellet was fired at a classroom window while youngsters were having lessons.

Stones have also been thrown at another window at the school although Southampton City Council's education bosses stress there is no way to establish a link between the incidents and the arrival of the travellers.

In a letter issued to parents, head teacher Anne Steele Arnett confirmed that a pellet was shot through a Year 6 classroom window and a stone thrown against another window.

In the letter she said: "Every precaution is being taken to secure our site and protect our children and staff."

But some parents are urging tougher action and are demanding the travellers are moved on quickly.

Kerry Irvine, 29, who has a nine-year-old daughter at the school said: "I am thinking of taking her out - what with the pellets going through the windows. Our kids are losing out. A few of us mothers are going to get together and take our kids out."

Mrs Khatra Roles, from Shirley added: "We have a feeling of concern for health and safety reasons. Parents are not happy. The kids can't play here. We are worried about the dogs. One of the kids might get hurt. There is a general feeling of unease."

Parent Steve Mythen, 37, from Coxford Road said: "It is a bit of a shame because the children can't play."

A City Council spokesman said: "The school says that none of its fences have been damaged. The small group of travellers in an adjacent field have not caused any noise disruption to the school either. There has been one isolated incident where a pellet struck a school window. No one was hurt in the incident, and the pellet was found on the ground.

"There is nothing to connect this incident with the travellers. The police were called and the incident has been dealt with.

"The safety of children at the school is paramount and parents have been reassured the security of our pupils remains the highest priority.

"As far as the school is aware, there has not been any unauthorised absence by pupils today. If the situation changes in any way, parents will be informed."

A spokesman for the Civil Service Sports Council said they were working to evict the travellers as quickly as possible.

The travellers are thought to be part of a larger group that were moved on from Southampton Common.

The group had originally been moved on when they were evicted from a site at Highfield Road on the common but shifted only 50 yards away to a new patch of land at Highfield Avenue.