TRAVELLERS have moved on to a showpiece North-East business park for the second time in two weeks.

Darlington Borough Council will now have to go to court to evict the two caravans, which are on the Morton Palms site on the edge of Darlington.

At the beginning of the month, six caravans drove on to the site and stayed for five days, provoking fury from people in the area. The invasion came as the first £12m phase of the site was nearing completion.

The travellers left after the council threatened to obtain a court order, but two caravans returned to Morton Palms on Wednesday evening.

Yesterday, a leading politician warned the travellers' camp could put potential investors off and could harm Darlington's economic future.

Tony Richmond, leader of the council's Conservative group, said: "This is a prestigious site which Darlington Borough Council is promoting to developers, and it is going to make it difficult for the council if travellers turn up randomly. We are going to have to get a permanent solution or it could put developers off."

The land is owned by Darlington Borough Council and is being developed by City and Northern. Once the sites are developed, ownership is turned over to the developer.

The council said yesterday it had met City and Northern, which had agreed to pay for lockable mounds and posts. These will prevent access to the site, except by the road.

Stephen Harker, cabinet member for environmental services, said the council was surprised the travellers had returned.

"Prospective buyers need access to this land. This is something we are aware of that may become a long-term issue," he said.

Councillor Bill Dixon, deputy leader of the council, said: "If the same people come back again, I will be asking the authority to consider making injunctions on individuals."

A spokesman for City and Northern said it was leaving the matter to the council.