TRAVELLERS left a trail of destruction and excrement behind them at Pickering's industrial estate after visiting the town's traction engine rally.

They turned a gravel path into a "human kitty litter", and caused tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage, said the managing director of one firm based at the Thornton Road site.

Tony Smithson, MD of Technicare Electronics, in the Thornton Road Industrial Estate, said caravans and tents sprang up on Monday, July 31, bringing with them seven days of misery for the staff who work there, before leaving last Sunday.

Mr Smithson said: "Understandably, my staff refused to go near the camp because they felt intimidated, and found themselves standing in human excrement. It was a complete mess."

He said he was particularly angry because no one in authority would take responsibility for the travellers' actions.

"Ryedale District Council denied there was anything they could do and kicked it to North Yorkshire County Council's highways department. They told us it was not their problem, it was a police problem. But the police said it was a Ryedale District Council issue.

"In the meantime, we were at our wits' end, and nobody would lift a finger. It appears these people have more rights than we do."

Technicare reclaims parts from unused electronic devices such as phones. The family-run firm, which has been operating for 10 years, is based in a new building in the industrial estate in Enterprise Way. But Mr Smithson said the travellers had damaged the chrome panels on the building, and it could cost more than £20,000 to replace them all. The company's outdoor compressor was also used as a clothes line, and windows were smashed.

In addition, all the gravel on an access road near the building will need to be removed and replaced. Mr Smithson said: "It's like a human kitty litter, full of waste.

They have used it, then kicked it over, so you can't even see it until you step in it."

The company will write to Ryedale MP John Greenway about the problem, and is taking legal advice about whether it can claim damages from Ryedale District Council.

Richard Etherington, housing services manager at Ryedale District Council, said: "The travellers were obviously there for the Pickering Traction Engine Rally. We were notified in the early part of last week that they had moved on to an empty plot on the industrial estate."

Mr Etherington said the plot was privately-owned land, and the council would therefore not normally take enforcement action. Even with the land-owner's consent, any court action could not have been completed before the end of the rally on Sunday, when the travellers left of their own accord.

Mr Etherington said: "As an authority, there was nothing practical we could have done. We tried to mitigate their presence by providing them with a skip, and as a gesture of goodwill we have agreed to make some of our staff available to assist with the clearing-up process."

Ryedale District Council staff have been working on the clean-up operation in the last two days.

Fred McManus, Ryedale's Anti-social Behaviour Co-ordinator, who deals with issues surrounding travelling groups, said: "Travellers from all over the area and beyond come for the traction engine rally. The vast majority come and behave themselves but there are always a few who cause us a problem.

"This behaviour was not acceptable, and obviously for next year, if that lot is still vacant, we need to look at the suitability of anyone camping there.

"It has, however, been an isolated problem, and considering the number of travellers who come for the rally, it was a success. It's just a pity that this small minority spoiled it."