A COUNCIL is due to adopt a new policy for dealing with travellers who illegally set up camps.

Darlington Borough Council has been forced to take action several times over the past year to evict caravans and travellers from sites in and around Darlington.

Recently, travellers settled at the multi-million pound Morton Palms business development, on the edge of town, in February. The stand-off between the travellers and the local authority began at the start of the month, when six caravans set up home 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 and secured a court order to evict the travellers. They moved on before being evicted by bailiffs.

Now, the council is due to adopt a new policy to deal with unauthorised encampments.

A full council meeting will consider the matter on Thursday. The revised policy includes a travellers' code of conduct, a summary of unacceptable locations, the possible reasons for eviction and a proposal for joint agreement on the subject between police and local authorities.

Last year, the council was forced to spend £34,000 on gates, barriers of earth and limestone blocks to prevent travellers moving on to six sites in the town.