Extensive fire damage has been caused to a house at the centre of a bitter dispute between North Tipperary County Council, a Traveller family and local people.

Residents mounted pickets and an unsuccessful judicial review hearing in the High Court after the house in Ballina was allocated to the family.

They are currently planning an appeal to the Supreme Court.

The unoccupied house caught fire last night and Gardai have preserved the scene to determine the cause of the blaze.