A government minister has promised travellers will not get special treatment when it comes to building on green fields in Wiltshire, according to North Wiltshire Tory MP James Gray.

Speaking after talks with planning minister Yvette Cooper, he said he was satisfied alarm over a potential spread of development in the county was being taken seriously in Whitehall.

The Tory MP said senior government planners had assured him new laws would enable tighter control by local authorities with steps that should limit building and clamp-down on illegal traveller camps.

The MP said it was good news for the county. He said: "The minister agreed Wiltshire makes fair provision for gipsies and that this has to be taken into consideration when they are making planning applications.

"That means presumption should be made against granting planning permission for any of the illegal sites."

There are currently 10 approved locations for travellers in Wiltshire, where they are allowed to set up their homes.

The MP, who is spokesman for rural affairs in the Conservative Party, stressed that he did not want to see anyone treated badly or discriminated against.