TRAVELLERS who embarrassed council chiefs by setting up camp on one of the region's newest business parks came under fire last night after leaving the site.

Six caravans were parked at the £12m Morton Palms development, on the edge of Darlington, for much of last week.

The families arrived there early on Wednesday and were immediately issued with a notice by the borough council, stating that they had to leave by yesterday.

Had they not done so, the authority would have been forced to apply to Darlington Magistrates' Court for an order to remove the travellers.

That could have taken up to a fortnight, but yesterday there was no sign of the caravans that had blighted the development.

Bill Dixon, deputy council leader, said last night: "I'm not surprised that they've gone. They've only ever not gone once before when we have said we will seek a court order.

"It's just been a stupid game of cat and mouse that was totally unnecessary. We actually provide two very good sites for travellers, so there was no reason to do this.

"The site they chose represents a big part of the future of the town, and we're not best pleased that for a few days it was turned from a premier development into a political football."

The travellers had been clearly visible to motorists driving along the A66 trunk road.