POLICE chiefs last night described fears for public safety over a bitter on-going feud between two rival North-East gangs.

Violent clashes between members of the travelling community, dubbed the "Hawkers" , and town centre drinkers known as "Townies" has led to at least one death and had forced police in Darlington to put extra officers on the street, it was revealed.

Tensions between the rival gangs over the past ten years have led to numerous clashes.

There have also been a number of deaths, including that of John Robertson, a married father-of-one, who was stabbed in Darlington 14 months ago.

Chief Superintendent Paul Tinkler said yesterday that Durham Police had received feedback that unrest between the gangs continued to simmer in the town.

Police were forced to put 60 extra officers on duty in Darlington over August Bank Holiday after receiving intelligence that the gangs were preparing to clash, he said.

There were also fears that the two groups would fight on the anniversary of Mr Robertson's death on September 28.

Mr Robertson, 37, was stabbed by former friend John Barry Durham after a serious of violent clashes between the two sides. Durham, 33, admitted manslaughter and was jailed for three and a half years in April.

Police had also become concerned about a number of incidents including a fight at the Tanners pub in Darlington on August 18 between the groups and an incident when a gun was fired in the Haughton area of the town nine months ago.

Police understood the growing feud was to blame.

Chief Supt Tinkler made the revelations during a hearing at Teesside Crown Court yesterday.

The hearing took place into a decision by the force firearms officer to revoke a gun licence belonging to Louis Welch.

The court was told that Mr Welch had links to the Hawkers gang and Chief Supt Tinkler said he feared for public safety.

Mr Welch, a father-of-three, of Geneva Road, Darlington has denied he is a gang leader and is appealing against the decision.

Chief Supt Tinkler said: "They can be drinking together one week and in opposition the next week.

"Just over a year ago, a person was killed in Darlington, there was also another incident when a shotgun was discharged in a house.

"Intelligence suggested it was somebody from the opposing gang that discharged the gun.

"Our intelligence is that Mr Welch is in charge of the gang known as the hawkers.

"The gangs still exist in Darlington and there are still rumblings between the two."

The police had decided to not allow Mr Welch to carry a gun because he had been involved in a disturbance with Mr Robertson that took place in the Tanners pub. He had also pleaded guilty to possessing offensive weapons on a separate occasion.

Mr Welch told the court that he was not a gang leader but he was in charge of the Honeypot Lane caravan site.

He apologised to the court for his behaviour in the Tanners pub and nearby Duke's bar but said he had been provoked by the rival gang.

"It goes quiet for a while then it starts up again,", he said. "It does not persistently go on all the time. People's emotions run high but not as far as myself. I have not been involved in the feud."

He said he had been in possession of offensive weapons because he had confiscated them from two people on the caravan site.

The court will decide today whether Mr Welch can keep his firearms certificate.