TRAVELLERS who trashed their York council home and blighted the lives of their neighbours have moved out.

Richard and Glenis Smith have not been seen for several weeks at their neglected home in Woolnough Avenue, Tang Hall, housing officers said.

The local authority took control of the property again yesterday after a judge evicted the couple and their two children last month. It was boarded up by council workers in early May.

The court heard that the house had been badly damaged, with internal doors taken off and rubbish and litter strewn about the garden and rooms.

A City of York Council spokeswoman said the family are thought to have returned to a travelling lifestyle, and had been spotted living in living in caravans on the outskirts of the city.

She said work would now begin to refurbish the building for new tenants, but officers feared a substantial amount of renovation might be necessary.

Neighbours, who did not wish to be named, spoke of their relief that the family have left. One said: "They are a nuisance and we are pleased they are going."

Judge John Cockroft gave the council a possession order for the house in April after hearing of the "spectacular damage to the interior and equally spectacular neglect".

York County Court heard how some family members wanted to move back to a travelling lifestyle, and that Mr Smith in particular had "no interest in conforming to the settled life".

Since they moved into the house in October 2000, neighbours had been subjected to loud music and motorcycles being ridden up and down the street at all hours.

The council received 82 complaints, and the court heard it had reached the stage where one resident wanted to move away from the area. But it was the interior of the house - where the Smiths caused at least £2,500 of damage - which the judge branded "deplorable".

Speaking after the hearing, Joanne Dawson, of the York Travellers' Trust, said the Smiths had experienced difficulties in coping away from the travelling life.

Updated: 10:24 Wednesday, June 01, 2005