THE latest incident in a string of targeted attacks in an ongoing traveller feud has seen a 4x4 driven into a house and torched.

Residents reported seeing the blaze consuming the car and part of the semi-detached house on the corner of The Fairway and Yarm Road, in Darlington, at around 8.20pm on Wednesday night.

Police have confirmed the house was empty at the time and no one was injured in the fire, however the suspects involved have not been traced.

The same property was targeted on December 19, 2016, when a lorry was reversed through a garden wall, stopping short of the front bay window.

Chief Inspector Sue Robinson, from Darlington Neighbourhood Police Team, stated that the arson attack is connected to an escalating traveller feud that has seen the skulls of two teenage brothers stolen, petrol bomb attacks and ram raids.

Chief Insp Robinson said: “We can confirm the incident is connected to an ongoing feud in the traveller community.

“The investigation into the incident is ongoing, but we need people to come forward with information.

“There will be members of the local community who know who is responsible – they need to come forward and speak to us so that we can take positive action against those responsible.”

She added: “Although nobody was injured in this particular incident, and damage to the house was limited, there is always the potential that people not connected with the feud can be injured – we therefore cannot allow these types of incidents to continue.”

A nearby resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said he heard a bang and then sirens coming up Yarm Road.

He then saw smoke and flames licking the side of the empty house and added: “We’re almost getting used to living like this, there have been so many incidents like this in the Yarm Road area.

“I honestly don’t think anything will change until someone is seriously injured or killed.

“It’s fine for people to say it’s a targeted attack and the public aren’t under threat, but they don’t have to live here.”

A woman who lives nearby is understood to be bedbound and neighbours said it was lucky the fire had not spread.

  • Anyone with any information can contact Durham Police via non-emergency number 101, quoting incident number 460 of December 20.
  • Information can also passed on to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.