More than 750 new and improved authorised pitches for Traveller families have been given the green light by the government as part of efforts to avoid a repeat of the Dale Farm standoff.

Ministers have signed off on bids totalling £47m from councils and other providers across England – with bids also being taken for a further £13m.

The government hopes that boosting provision, alongside action to tackle unauthorised encampments, will help defuse tensions between settled communities and Travellers.

For full story see The Guardian