A Darlington councillor has launched a stinging attack on police for failing to tackle trespassing travellers.

Councillor Ian Haszeldine, ward member for Lingfield, told a public meeting that travellers were defecating in bushes, organising illegal cock fights and abusing residents on sites in Allington Way and John Dixon Lane.

He accused police of failing to use their powers to evict the unwelcome visitors.

He said officers treated travellers as if they were "above the law" and had driven past those committing illegal acts.

"I'm here on behalf of residents I represent who feel very angry and hurt and upset and let down by the police in Darlington," he told the police community consultative group meeting at Havelock Street Community Centre.

"I have personally taken physical and verbal abuse. I have had things thrown at me. I have actually witnessed defecation, cock fighting, illegal tipping.

"The smell from the site is unbelievable because of the human excrement and the dogs.

"Has anybody or any travellers been cautioned or spoken to while they have been here?

"Why, when police have called, have they not got out of their vehicles?"

Eastbourne ward councillor Bill Dixon said: "What's happened this year has been horrific. People have had to move out because they can't stand the stench."

Coun Haszeldine, a member of Darlington Borough Council cabinet, admitted that the authority had also failed to properly deal with the travellers.

Chief Superintendent Michael Banks, from Darlington police, said the town had had an unusually high influx of travellers this summer.

"There is nobody above the law," he said. "We are looking very quickly to review the procedures and the legal position to see if we are operating to the full extent that the powers allow."But he said the presence of travellers alone was often enough to anger residents and he was not prepared for police to go on to sites in riot clothing to evict them.

"I'll look at the issue and deal with the problems," he said.

"What I don't want to get into, is targeting what is often a minority group at the first site they have landed and using physical force.