POLICE investigating a long-running feud in the traveller community have averted a serious incident in recent weeks and made a number of arrests, officers have revealed.

One person is still in custody in connection to the feud, which began almost two-years-ago and has involved the theft of the skulls, petrol bomb attacks and a series of ram raids across Darlington and County Durham.

Inspector Chris Knox, from the Darlington Neighbourhood Policing Team, said a number of arrests have been made in relation to the feud, and revealed that officers successfully foiled one “incident of note” in recent weeks relating to the traveller community.

Insp Knox made the revelations at a Police and Communities Together (PACT) meeting in Wesley Court Community Centre, just off Yarm Road, in Darlington on Wednesday night, where members of the public gathered to hear the latest on the police investigation.

“It is a very difficult situation for the police to deal with, but I understand people’s frustration and concerns that innocent people could get caught up in it,” said Insp Knox.

“We have made a number of arrests so far and one person remains on remand, and we have also prevented one incident of note occurring."

The feud came to light in November 2015 when the remains of two teenage brothers were dug up at a cemetery in Metal Bridge, near Spennymoor.

The disturbed grave belonged to siblings who both took their own lives at the age of 16.

In February, a horsebox was rammed into a family home on Barmpton Lane, which had also been firebombed the previous autumn.

Both attacks are understood to be linked to the on-going feud.

In May, police confirmed a drive-by shooting on a black Vauxhall Insignia on Langdale Road was linked to the feud.

The attack, which saw the vehicle peppered with bullet marks, happened on a quiet residential street on a Saturday afternoon.

Insp Knox said the force was working as hard it can and was using “every resource” available.

“Nobody has been hurt in the Darlington area so far, and long may that continue,” he said.

“We are really pleased the community has not been dragged into it so far.

“We have to bring those responsible to justice and make them realise they are not above the law."

Insp Knox also addressed concerns from residents relating to comments made by Durham’s Police, Crime and Victim’s Commissioner Ron Hogg, who described the on-going feud as “posturing”.

The choice of wording had come in for some criticism from those at the meeting, but in a statement read out by Insp Knox, Mr Hogg said he “fully appreciated” the residents' “deep concerns”, but there was no evidence to suggest the wider public was being targeted.

One resident said: “It is important that travellers are treated like any other member of the public.

“It is not nice to think that anyone could get caught up in it.”

Anyone who has any information or would like to report anything suspicious should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.