A STRONGER barricade was put up yesterday to prevent travellers going back on a large stretch of riverside land with their horses, caravans and lorries.

They broke open a barrier a week ago to get on the Demesnes, at Barnard Castle, County Durham, while on their way to Appleby Horse Fair, in Cumbria.

More than 70 families camped on the pasture beside the River Tees at different times in the past week, but after the last of them moved off, action was taken by Teesdale Council, owners of the land.

Workmen put extra steel sections and heavy padlocks on to a moveable barrier which allows cars and pedestrians on to the land, but blocks the way of larger vehicles.

They put in extra bollards to prevent caravans and lorries getting past the side of the blockade, and moved the position of a five-bar gate to prevent them getting in via a track.

Peter Slack, the council's director of community services, waited until the last travellers left before arranging the extra measures.

He said he hoped they will keep the travellers out if they try to get back on the Demesnes on their way home to North-East towns this weekend after the fair.

One of the workmen said: "It will certainly be more difficult for them to get through now, but we will just have to wait and see what happens."

The travellers had been kept off the land for five years. But they were anxious to get back on as it has good, flat pitches for caravans and enables them to wash horses in the river. They used a hacksaw and hammer to force their way in.

One traveller said they were doing no harm, and were only following tradition by stopping at places such as this on their way to Appleby.