Evicted Dale Farm travellers who descended on Newcastle following a high profile showdown have shocked residents - by leaving town after less than a week.

More than a dozen families descended on Newcastle Great Park, Gosforth, last weekend declaring they were there "for life" and sparking fears that they would refuse to budge.

But after being served with an eviction notice by the landowner yesterday morning they were on their way.

It also emerged yesterday that a worker from a nearby office needed a Tetanus injection after a dog owned by the travellers allegedly bit them.

A spokeswoman for Sage said the employee was taken to medics for an injection, but this was simply a precaution.

She said: “There has been a minor incident with a dog but the person involved is absolutely fine.

“The safety of our people is our priority so we will continue to work with the authorities to make sure that this maintained.”

The travellers left behind rubbish including an empty gas cylinder, a discarded rug and a tyre, but this was quickly cleaned up.

The travellers abrupt arrival on Newcastle came after hundreds of families were evicted from Dale Farm at Crays Hill, Essex, last week after a showdown with Basildon Council in court.

That site was part-owned by travellers, but over the years a second camp had begun to take shape on part of the green belt land which did not have planning permission.

Last month, Basildon Council secured an eviction order and, despite protests which erupted into violence, the site was eventually cleared.

Last week around 30 caravans turned up at Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead.

Hundreds took over the area with caravans, cars, vans and gas cylinders, but there was no suggestion those travellers originated from Dale Farm.

They have now left the site.

The Newcastle Great Park Consortium, which manages the land in Newcastle, yesterday confirmed it served the travellers with an eviction notice but did not wish to give an in-depth statement.

It is not known where the travellers have now gone.