A FAMILY of travellers were last night banned from setting up camp across a swathe of countryside as part of a landmark legal ruling which could have implications for councils around the country.

It is thought to be one of the first times that Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (Asbos) have been issued against four members of the same family - making them collectively responsible for any future breaches.

Not only does the order create a ten-square-mile exclusion zone around three North Yorkshire villages, it also prevents them from tethering horses on private land without permission.

Another crucial condition of the Asbo says the family can camp on roadside verges outside the exclusion zone for only 21 days before moving on.

And they can only return to that site after 12 months.

The Smith family, from the Malton area of North Yorkshire, have been the subject of repeated complaints to police, dating back to 1998. They regularly camp along the roadside verges and at one point had 50 horses and various other animals.

Allegations against them include the setting of roadside fires, tethered horses wandering into the road, and the destruction of farmers' crops.

The Smith family, who live in three caravans and have ten horses and 28 dogs, attended Pickering Magistrates' Court yesterday to hear the ruling.

District Judge Roy Anderson granted an Asbo against four senior men of the family - David Smith Senior, Richard Smith, Thomas Smith and Rabbi Smith Junior. They will share "corporate responsibility" for any breaches - meaning all four will be brought back to court.

The application was made on behalf of North Yorkshire County Council, in partnership with Ryedale District Council and North Yorkshire Police.

The prohibition order covers an area that takes in the villages of Warthill, Gate Helmsley and Sand Hutton, on the outskirts of York. The order states the family can travel through the area, but can stop only for fuel.

A county council spokesman said: "This is one of the first applications in the country that has been made against a family unit.

"It is a new use for the Asbo legislation, which other authorities will be looking at very closely."

The family, which agreed to the orders, returned to their encampment close to the A64 at Malton.

Several residents in Teesdale, County Durham, last night welcomed the Asbo ruling.

This June, many travellers, going to and from Appleby Horse Fair, in Cumbria, stopped in the dale much longer than usual.

Travelling families spent several weeks at the Demesnes, in Barnard Castle, the village of Winston, near Gainford, and Stainton Grove estate.

At Winston, the annual village sports day had to be called off because of the mess left by the travellers on the sports field.

Trevor Wood, a local resident, said: "We've always had travellers who've come through on their way to Appleby, but this year they were there for seven to eight weeks. It's good to know there's something that can be done."

Tony Cooke, of Stainton and Streatlam Parish Council, said: "I welcome this, anything that would give us some protection."