YORK police were today holding "positive, constructive" talks with travellers following an incident at a site in the city.

Officers were talking to residents of the site in Outgang Lane, Osbaldwick, about a "fracas" that broke out when Humberside and North Yorkshire Police recovered a stolen horse box from the site last night.

A Humberside Police spokesman said they received a call from a horse box owner, of Kilnwick Percy, near Pocklington, at 10pm last night, saying he was following a blue Vauxhall Cavalier that was towing his horsebox.

The Humberside Police helicopter followed the vehicle to the travellers' site where they saw two men run from the vehicle.

The horsebox was recovered and returned to its owner. Nobody was arrested.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said a "fracas" followed, but it was not serious and nobody was hurt.

He said: "There was a disturbance when some people at the site reacted adversely.

"Police initially withdrew and went back in and talked it all through.

"The horse box was recovered and taken back to Humberside.

"York police have made contact with the travellers' trust and people at the site to talk things over. We are doing a bit of positive, constructive work."

Jo Dawson, community support worker for the York Travellers' Trust, said she welcomed today's talks, but was keen to stress that the travelling community in York was very law-abiding.

She said: "None of our lot steals cars so I don't know if somebody from outside has stolen the vehicle and then driven it on to the site.

"I definitely welcome the talks, I think it shows that the police have realised that there's a need for communication, breaking down a few barriers."

The thieves are believed to have visited the home of the horse box owner on Wednesday, a day before the theft took place.

Updated: 15:14 Friday, July 25, 2003