DISCUSSIONS will take place next week in an attempt to prevent travellers returning to camp on a village site.

Talks will be held between police, Durham County Council and Wear Valley District Council, after more than 100 travellers descended on Leeholme, near Coundon, on Friday.

The group left yesterday, without any reports of trouble, but residents complained of noise, nuisance and intimidation.

This time last year, 1,500 travellers arrived on the site, behind Windsor Terrace and Buckingham Terrace, as part on an annual horse drive in memory of a member of their community.

The land belongs to Wear Valley District Council, who had placed boulders at the entrance to stop caravans and horses from accessing the site.

But the travellers simply moved the stones, causing Councillor Neil Stonehouse, leader of Wear Valley council and a representative for the Coundon ward, to confront some of the group.

He said: "These people have absolutely no respect for anybody. They have moved boulders that were put up to block their access to the field and, when I remonstrated with them, they were quite threatening."

Talks to prevent the travellers from returning had taken place throughout the year, but had not included Coun Stonehouse or county councillor Phil Graham.

However, they will both be present at a meeting due to take place between the authorities on Wednesday afternoon.

Coun Graham said: "I have no problem with their culture, and we have to respect the travellers' wish to engage in this annual 'trot'.

"What we, as an authority, have to do, is make sure that carrying out their rights doesn't impact on the life of the residents who live here."

Scott McInally, the county council's travel liaison service manager, said: "There have been a number of joint meetings between the county council, the police, the travellers and Wear Valley District Council during the last year, to try to resolve this issue."

Chief Inspector Dave Orford, who covers the south Durham area, said that the travellers had moved on before being formally evicted and their stay had passed without incident.