TRAVELLERS camped illegally on land in north Durham have been ordered to leave.

Concerns have been raised with police and Durham County Council following the arrival of people living in caravans at various sites in the Stanley area.

The community has been based near Hustledown Road at South Moor since Monday, having been moved on from Oakies Park and land at Oxhill last week.

Oliver Sherratt, head of direct services at Durham County Council, said: “We have served a Direction to Leave notice on the group currently located at South Moor as it is an unacceptable site for an encampment of this nature.

“We are now monitoring the situation to ensure that they comply with this notice within a reasonable time.

“We very much expect that they will comply but if they do not vacate the site we will be taking further action, including application for a court order.”

Police said they will be on hand to help move the travellers on if necessary.

Inspector Kelly Martin, of Stanley Police, said: “It is a council initiative to deal with the issue because it is their land and we are supporting them.

“We have to go through due legal process to get eviction notices and that is what they are doing.

“This is the third site, but we have to respect the legislation and go through the necessary stages. There is nothing else we can do legally. It is quite frustrating.

“We will be asking them to leave the land and failing that we will be looking at our options to see what else we can do. We cannot act until they have been given sufficient notice and opportunity to leave of their own accord.”

It is thought the group is made up of families staying in up to 70 caravans.

Insp Martin added: “We are speaking to members of the community as well and my team are out in South Moor talking to people. Community concerns have been raised because the caravans are quite a visible presence but there is nothing to suggest they have been responsible for any increase in crime. That is not the case.”

Last week around 1,000 caravans were moved off the field off the B1257 between Ryhope and Seaham.

The Seaham gathering was made up of members of the Light and Life Mission, an evangelical church for gypsies and travellers, who arrived after making contact with the landowner last month but not police.