The families have lodged a planning application

The group of 16 families lodged a planning application to set up mobile homes and utility rooms on land they own in North Curry on Friday.

Materials were brought in to start the building work the next day.

But Taunton Deane Borough Council is now applying for an injunction for the group's caravans to be removed until planners come to a decision.

A council spokeswoman said: "Due to the fact that the applicants have breached planning regulations and that the proposed large scale development of this site has a detrimental environmental impact on the surrounding area, an enforcement notice and a stop notice will be served."

She said planners, environmental health and legal officers had made site visits.

The travellers have used a legal loophole that allows people to start building work while waiting for planning permission to be granted.

They have applied to develop the six-acre site on Oxen Lane for use by 16 mobile homes and touring caravans.

The council's application for an injunction will be made to the courts next week.

The travellers told the BBC they did not want to comment on the issue until a decision was made.