A Leader of the gipsy community will be provided with a police escort when he visits a travellers' camp in the region, because of fears of fanning the flames of an already volatile situation.

Hughie Smith, 73, president of the National Gipsy Council, was ordered by magistrates yesterday to stay away from the Thistle Hill Caravan Camp, on the outskirts of Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, where he is manager - except for one trip a week, during which he must be accompanied by a police officer.

Mr Smith pleaded not guilty to a charge of using threatening behaviour towards Peter Varey, at the camp, on December 21, and the Crown dropped an allegation of making threats to destroy property.

His nephew, Charlie Smith, 36, denied a charge of assault on James Varey, and both men - who live at the Harrogate district's other gipsy camp, at Springs Lane, Bickerton, near Wetherby - were bailed to attend a pre-trial review on February 10.

At an earlier hearing, the prosecution claimed visits to the site by the Smiths could lead to further incidents by inflaming a situation which was already volatile, and a ban was imposed.

Sandra Mason, presiding magistrate at the hearing, in Harrogate, told both men they had not to interfere with prosecution witnesses, including the Vareys, and that any notice to quit the site would have to be served by someone else.