THOUSANDS of travellers attending an annual festival celebrating the Christian faith have defended themselves against criticism from residents.

Around 3,000 members of the North-East travelling community have pitched up their touring caravans at a showground in Oxfordshire for a gathering organised by Darlington-based faith groups.

The Light and Life Church, of St Hilda’s Church, off Park Gate, in Darlington, planned the four-day gospel event and paid to hire the Thame Showground, on the outskirts of the small market town.

Caravans began arriving in Thame over the weekend and are expected to remain at the impromptu site until Friday, August 11.

Thame residents have criticised members of the travelling community using the showground as a home for the week, claiming on social media that their arrival has coincided with a rise in crime, including thefts and antisocial behaviour.

However, Jackie Boyd, an executive minister at the Light and Life Church, said: “Whether we are gypsies or not, it doesn’t matter – we are human beings. Everybody deserves a chance.

“People are saying we have overrun the town and it’s despicable, but they have never even seen any of us.

“I’m 57-years-old and I’ve come to expect this. It doesn’t hurt as much as it used to, I’ve just learnt to live with it.”

Thame and Oxfordshire County Agricultural Association (TOCAA), which hires out the showground, suggested it had been misled during the booking of the site which was made by another faith group based in Darlington’s Yarm Road.

A TOCAA spokesman said: “Six months ago we took a legitimate booking from the Darlington Christian Fellowship, a religious group that was having its annual get-together.”

The spokesman added that no further comment could be made as Thames Valley Police were involved.

A Darlington Christian Fellowship pastor confirmed that although the two religious groups are based in the same town, they are not linked.

Mr Boyd added that among the 3,000 travellers, there were likely to be “bad eggs”, but said that applies across all communities and invited residents to join prayers and bible studies during the festival.

He said: “It’s been absolutely brilliant, there is really good spirit.”

In May 2013, Darlington residents were assured a clean-up operation to remove mud and debris from the A66 would not cost taxpayers extra money following the same Christian gathering being held in the town.

A busy section of the A66 Darlington bypass was closed for 12 hours between Great Burdon and Lingfield Point after the four-day meeting was held in fields on the outskirts of Darlington.