THE borough council is to take action to defuse tensions between Middlewich residents and gipsies following claims that gardens are being used as caravan sites.

The move comes after a residents' group said the council had 'failed to use the legislation to protect both Middlewich residents and the travelling community's interests', which is causing widespread anger in the town.

Andy Bailey, spokesman for CW10residents' group, said people are concerned travellers are living in caravans while their houses remain empty, while some families are living in caravans separately to the houses, which contravenes planning regulations.

He said there is also a health and safety issue with the siting of gas canisters. But he was keen to stress it was not an anti-gipsy or race issue.

He said: "We have always approached this as a planning and enforcement issue with our local authority and sympathise with our gipsy community."

Following a meeting with CW10residents on Monday night, the council agreed that environmental health officers would look into the siting of gas canisters next to caravans in the interest of health and safety.

But Ruby Price, a Romany gipsy who lives on Booth Lane, said it was a 'can't win' situation for the gipsies and Irish travellers living in Middlewich.

She said: "We're a very close community and our families want to live together. There are not really any sites in Cheshire and if we set up in fields we're always moved on. If we buy houses people complain.

"It's part of our culture and tradition to live together and we have quite old fashioned values."

A family member, who did not wish to be named, said the problems were down to fear of the unknown and that some people didn't understand different cultures.

David Dingle, borough council public services director, said it was the council's duty to eliminate unlawful racial discriminations and promote equality and good relations between people of different racial groups.

A spokeswoman for the council said it would now consult the wider community to develop comprehensive planning guidance and an enforcement issue.