A WOMAN says she and her family have been forced out of their Darlington home because of the behaviour of travelling families.

The woman, who has asked not to be identified, said travellers had been using bushes as lavatories near an illegal campsite in John Dixon Lane.

They had left piles of used lavatory paper, and her dog had returned home covered in human excrement.

The woman said she could not let her children play outside because of the problem, and she could not open the windows of her home because there were so many flies attracted by the travellers' refuse.

Many other people have complained to Darlington Borough Council about the noise and litter that is generated by the camp.

The woman and her husband packed the car and took their family on an eight-hour trip to stay with her sister in Southend, Essex, until the travellers have moved on.

She said: "It is disgusting and we feel like we have been driven out.

"They are creating a health hazard and they will move on, but it will be the residents who are left with it.

"If we complain we are branded as racist, but we are not racists. This is anti-social behaviour."

Last week, Darlington council officials reassured residents that action was being taken after a number of complaints about the travellers.

The authority is implementing a legal process to force them to move on.

Inspector Bill Bentham, of Darlington police, said: "We will treat this the same as any form of anti-social behaviour.

"We will look into any problem of anti-social behaviour from any group of people and any incident that is reported to us will be investigated.

"People committing this kind of offence will be arrested and prosecuted.

"We would encourage people to complain when they see this sort of thing happening, because otherwise we do not know the extent of the problem."

To make a report of anti-social behaviour call police on 0191-386 4929.