TRAVELLERS living illegally in a Teesdale village are refusing to move, despite opposition from residents and councillors.

Only a handful of caravans were parked on grassed areas in Stainton Grove, near Barnard Castle, last week, but over the weekend numbers have grown to up to 40 vehicles.

Residents have complained to the council and police about the travellers making noise, dropping rubbish, vandalising property and threatening people.

Officers from Durham County Council and Teesdale District Council will meet today to discuss what action to take.

The travellers are believed to be on their way to Appleby Fair, and say that they are using the site at Stainton Grove because the alternative one offered to them at Shaw Bank, outside Barnard Castle, is too boggy.

A spokesman for the council's Travellers Liaison Service said: "The travellers undertook to keep the encampment in good order, and on that understanding, it was decided not to move the encampment on, to monitor the situation and review things at the end of this week.

"We were assured that the area would be kept free of mess and we were confident that this would be the case."

Since then, however, because of the increase in the number of caravans at Stainton Grove, some are parked very close to houses.

The spokesman added: "Clearly now, the situation has changed and we have to reconsider what needs to be done."

Stainton parish councillor Tony Cook said: "It's all right for them.

"They are only here for a couple of weeks then they go, we have to pay for it afterwards.

"They are completely unapproachable too.

"I went to go and see them to talk to them about moving to Shaw Bank and was threatened with having a scalding hot cup of tea poured on top of me."

Mark Ladyman, from Teesdale District Council, said: "We've tried to persuade the travellers to move on, but they seem a little bit reluctant to do so.

"We're still in negotiations but if they still don't want to move we might have to consider legal action."