COUNCIL bosses were yesterday granted a court order to evict travellers who set up camp on one of the region's premier business developments.

Darlington Borough Council secured the eviction order at the town's magistrates' court as part of its efforts to clear the two caravans off the Morton Palms site.

The travellers must now leave the edge-of-town site or face the prospect of bailiffs moving in to remove the caravans.

The stand-off between the travellers and the local authority began at the start of the month, when six caravans were set up at Morton Palms, next to two £12m office blocks.

They remained there for five days - to the anger of civic leaders and developers City and Northern - before finally leaving.

But two caravans returned days later, again forcing the local authority to threaten legal action.

The travellers were served with a notice ordering them to leave and, when they did not comply, the council took the case to court.

An authority spokeswoman said yesterday: "The public protection division of the council, dealing with the unauthorised encampment of Morton Palms, has obtained an eviction order to remove travellers from the site.

"We initially responded to a complaint on February 17 and served a directions notice on February 18, but they did not respond.

"If they do not comply with the court order, the council will employ bailiffs to physically remove the caravans."

Plans to install lockable mounds and posts at the site entrance have been announced, but the measures have yet to be put in place.

Senior councillors had previously voiced anger at the caravans blighting the development, which is expected to accommodate 1,500 new jobs.

Last year, the council spent £34,000 on gates, barriers of earth and limestone blocks designed to prevent travellers occupying six sites in the town.