A collection of more than 30 horses belonging to a family of travellers has left a trail of devastation costing thousands of pounds at illegal encampments surrounding York.

The animals have munched their way through thousands of pounds of crops and hedges, residents of one affected village claim.

The travellers, known to council bosses in York and Ryedale as the Smith family, are believed to have been in the area for more than a year moving between council boundaries to evade eviction by the authorities.

The family are currently residing by the side of the road on the A166 between York and Stamford Bridge and their horses are tethered on grass verges.

They moved there after City of York officials threatened court action to get them out of the nearby village of Warthill where they had been encamped for the last three months.

One Warthill resident, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions, said the family had left a trail of devastation in the village.

"The horses have eaten their way through bushes and trees along the side of Rudcar Lane; they have even gobbled up more than £1,000 worth of crops belonging to a farmer in the village," she said.

"Some of the villagers helped plant some beautiful Rowan trees four years ago but the gypsy horses have decimated them; when the family finally left last week they left litter everywhere."

In January the Evening Press reported that the family were moved from a camp in Holtby Lane within the City of York Council's area and from there they pitched camp at Harton Lane in the Ryedale area.

Over the past year they have moved from Harton Lane to Claxton and then on to Warthill.

Dick Haswell, from City of York Council's environmental health department, said the Smiths would be moved from their current location.

"They have moved in the last week from the Ryedale boundary into ours and we are aware their horses are causing problems by eating hedgerows," he said.

"We are taking action to move them on and hopefully they will move within the near future.

"We have suggested they move to a designated gypsy site but they are reluctant to do that."

North Yorkshire County Council highways boss David Bowe said he believed the family were deliberately moving between the Ryedale and York boundaries to leapfrog eviction orders.

"They have been doing this for more than a year and I am told they don't want to move away because one of the family is working in York," he said.

"Both councils are in a difficult position in that we don't want to be seen to be persecuting particular gypsy family.

"On the other hand we also have to respect the rights of residents in these villages which have been affected by the family."

The Evening Press gave the Smith family the chance to have their say but the family declined.