THE boss of a gipsy site at the centre of allegations of police harassment has rejected calls for the local council to take over the running of the area.

Tara Park, in Malton, North Yorkshire, is maintained by the National Gipsy Council - but the Gypsy Council, a separate organisation, is unhappy with the way it is being run and has asked Ryedale District Council to take responsibility for it.

Anne Bagehot, of the Essex-based Gipsy Council, claimed the site had gone downhill since it was taken over by the National Gipsy Council.

"The council may have to consider taking management of the site back and running it for local gipsy families, who need a legal place to stay," she said.

Tara Park, and another site at York Road Industrial Estate, are owned by Ryedale council, but managed by Hughie Smith, president of the National Gipsy Council, who collects rents and carries out maintenance.

Last month, Mr Smith lodged a complaint with North Yorkshire Police, claiming residents of Tara Park were being harassed.

An investigation has been launched at Malton police station to look into the complaints.

Mr Smith said: "I think the allegations that the site is not being run properly are outrageous. I tidied up the previous site and we've only been on the current one for less than a year, so I don't understand how they can say it has become rundown."