POLICE have arrested seven people and seized weapons and vehicles as part of a major operation across five force areas aimed at ending an escalating Gipsy feud.

Police confirmed that two submachine guns and ammunition had been found during a raid at a traveller site in Doncaster. A pistol was also found along with shotgun ammunition.

The feud has already seen two skulls taken from the graves of a traveller family, stolen lorries rammed into two homes in the Darlington area and a petrol bomb attack on a third house in the town.

The Northern Echo:
Ammuntion recovered during searches in South Yorkshire

The Northern Echo:
Some of the ammuntion discovered during Operation Zephyr

The Northern Echo:
November 18: Six days after the Beaumont Hill incident, this truck which was stolen from Shotton Colliery was rammed into a property on Lynton Gardens, in Darlington

The coordinated operation - codenamed Zephyr - is being led by Durham Constabulary and involves 150 officers across the force areas of Durham, Northumbria, Cleveland, North Yorkshire and South Yorkshire.

Six people have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to committ GBH and a 25-year-old man has been arrested in Middlesbrough on suspicion of conspiracy to destroy or damage property.

This morning's raids centred on:

• A traveller site at West Rainton, near Durham
• A traveller site at Oakwell Park, Gateshead - next to The Baltic
• A traveller site in Doncaster
• An address in Middlesbrough
• A traveller site in York

Det Supt Adrian Green, of Durham Constabulary and who is leading the investigation, said: “We have raided a number of sites as part of co-ordinated strikes across the region.

“This is a targeted response in relation to the actions of a small number of travelling families.

“These raids are focused on those individuals who have been involved in criminal activities linked to a feud.

“This culminated in two skulls being taken from graves, which was a depraved acts which goes against the religious and cultural beliefs of decent people.

“I would like to thank the wider travelling community for their response and co-operation in helping us with our investigation.

“They have clearly been appalled by this and want a stop put to it just as much as we do.”

He issued a direct appeal to those involved to return the skulls from the desecrated graves from Metal Bridge cemetery, near Spennymoor.

"I would appeal to whoever has taken the skulls, that time is running out. Please call 101 or Crimestoppers and let me know where they are.

Officers arrived at West Rainton to conduct a search for the skulls - which have yet to be uncovered. No arrests have been made or items seized at the site.

Chief Inspector Caroline Dawson told The Northern Echo: "This is not about targeting travellers, this is about targeting a particular group that happens to be within the travelling community that are causing all these problems.

"It is not clear what the argument is about between these groups is about but we are clear who is involved.

"We will do whatever we can within our powers to stop them.

"Our priority is to find the skulls. Most members of the travelling community are shocked by the inciudents. They can't believe this would happen within their own community."

The Northern Echo:

Up to 35 officers from Northumbria Police visited the well-established traveller's site at Oakwell Park on Baltic Road, Gateshead, pictured above, which is currently home to 15 caravans.

A search was carried out for the missing skulls there and one vehicle was seized as part of the investigation. No arrests were made.

Inspector Mick Robson, of Northumbria Police, said; "The residents were very co-operative. We are happy with the progress of our operation this morning."

The desecration of the remains of two teenage brothers Levi George and Gareth Price, was branded as "depraved" by police - who confirmed at the time it was connected to the ongoing feud amnong travelling families.

The Northern Echo:
Levi Price, left, and his brother Gareth Price, whose skulls were stolen in what police described as a 'depraved act' Metal Bridge Cemetery, near Ferryhill

The skulls of the boys, both 16 when they took their own lives, were taken as part of a "focused amd targetted" attack early on Saturday morning.

Levi George Price was found hanged at the family home in Ferryhill, County Durham, in 2001, and his brother Gareth Price hanged himself in Lancaster Farms Young Offenders' Institution while waiting to be sentenced for the rape of a 17-year-old girl.

The grave of their sister Rose Ann Price was undisturbed. The mother-of-two died after a car crash while travelling from Doncaster to Ferryhill in 2001 to spend bonfire night with her family.

The Northern Echo:

It was revealed last night that four people from the Doncaster area were arrested by North Yorkshire Police on Monday in connection with the feud.

They have since been charged with conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm and have been transferred to custody in the South Yorkshire Police area.

A key figure in the region’s traveller community has already called for an end to the “senseless” attacks.

Anyone with information regarding the theft of the skulls is asked to contact officers on 101 quoting log number 0217 of November 21 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.