For Orchard Caravan Park at The Stanners is closing after 30 years and dozens of holiday makers have been told they must remove their beloved static caravans.

But the news, which came without warning in a solicitor’s letter last month, has angered many of the 30 caravan owners who have spent the summer redecorating and carrying out improvements to their plots.

It was a particularly devastating blow to Peter (84) and Lorretta (78) McLaren, who contacted park owners, Paul and Maureen Davison, back in May, to tell them of their intention to sell their holiday home, in situ, due to serious health problems.

“I was diagnosed with breast cancer and my husband lost his driving licence through eyesight problems,” explained Lorretta, who bought her caravan on the site in April last year.

“We felt we had no choice but to sell it privately – on the site – the same way we had bought it and according to the site rules.”

However, the couple, from Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, claim they were barred from doing so with no explanation, despite engaging their caravan association and even a solicitor, in an attempt to clarify their legal position.

“There was just no response to any correspondence,” said Lorretta.

“And suddenly, four months later, we were all notified that we have to remove our caravans by February 15.”

A letter issued by the Davisons, alongside the solicitors letter, states the closure is due to personal reasons and adds: “We sincerely hope that you will understand that we are unable to continue operating the site.”

Lorretta said: “We are faced with having to pay £1,000 to remove our caravan – if we are lucky enough to have found somewhere to take it – or to sell to a dealer at the most ridiculous price, therefore losing thousands of pounds.”

With a £1,000 plot fee paid upfront by each purchaser and an annual ground fee of £1,550 charged per caravan, many owners feel they should be compensated for the charges or losses they will incur to move or sell their holiday homes.

John and Elsie Wearmouth, from Newcastle, say their second season owning a caravan at the site has been marred by uncertainty.

“We thought something must be going on when we heard that people weren’t being allowed to sell their caravans on privately, as they always have done.

“But a lot of people have spent hundreds paving outside of their caravans and improving the place.

“And then, out of the blue, we all got a letter saying that we had to leave.

“There are a lot of elderly people here who have saved up to be able to enjoy their retirement and stand to lose a lot of money.”

Dawn Fada, from South Shields, whose parents Mohamed (70) and Gloria (68) Fada have spent the summer improving their caravan with new paving, decking and insulation, said her whole family is devastated.

“The family have been regular users of the caravan for the last five years and my parents must have spent about £2,500 this year alone on improving the place,” she explained.

“At no point were they told not to, or put in the picture about what was happening.”

Acting on behalf of the Davisons, Mark Egner, of Watson Burton LLP, said in a statement: “On September 11, following a decision to retire after many years of their considerate operation and management of the Orchard Caravan Park, Mr and Mrs Davison gave notice to the caravan owners to vacate the park on or before February 15, 2016.

“Despite not having a right to occupy the seasonal holiday park indefinitely, it is only natural that the owners will be disappointed and upset by this decision.

“However, Mr and Mrs Davison believe that the owners have been provided with a reasonable length of time in which to arrange the sale or transfer of their caravans.

“Selling the park as an ongoing business is not a feasible option as the park is inextricably linked to their own property which they do not wish to part with at the present time.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Mr and Mrs Davison have no immediate plans for the site following the closure of the park, whilst the owners have been free to choose their own transporter for the purpose of removing the caravans.”