UPDATED 7.30PM 

TRAVELLERS today left a Worcester park littered with disgusting rubbish - with dog faeces, fast food, clothes, old toys, packaging, cartons and even a pram dumped on the fields.

After council chiefs threatened legal action a bunch of caravans have finally departed Pitmaston Park in St John's - but not without leaving a mark.

The county council has tonight closed off the park until it can deal with the hazardous blight - an unprecedented step at the popular fields. 

These images show just some of the mess, with at least a dozen large black sacks positioned at all corners of the site, many of them spewing out all manner of garbage this afternoon.

As well as faeces one bag appeared to be caked in sick, attracting flies and seagulls, making it hazardous for any dog walkers braving the fields.

Angry residents have hit out at the mess, labelling it "disgusting", with taxpayers now facing the clean-up costs.

Some nearby householders told of argumentative battles with the travellers, who say dirty nappies and milk bottles were thrown over into their back gardens.

The travellers arrived on Friday in four caravans before the tally rose to around 10, with the final one leaving at around 3pm today.

Dog walker Pete Clifford, 48, of Winchester Avenue, said: "It's appalling - I come here all the time and I've never seen it like this.

"It's not safe, there's faeces all over the place. And we'll end up paying to clean this all up."

Linda Johnson, 60, of Malvern Road, said: "To be here, I can accept that - they need somewhere to go, but show us some respect."

One resident with a property backing onto the field, who did not wish to be named, said: "It's disgusting - there's sick on one of those bags.

"They've been chucking nappies over into the garden, I just throw it straight back."

Another dog walker yesterday, who also lives next to the park, said a milk bottle had been hurled into their garden - leading to his wife having an argument with one traveller.

Worcestershire County Council had already started to prepare its legal paperwork to repossess the site before they departed, a process which has now been halted so the clean-up can start.

Until these last few days it was unheard of for any travellers to pitch up at Pitmaston Park.

Councillor Andy Roberts, the city council's cabinet member for cleaner and greener, said: "I was brought up in the area so I've known it for more years than you can imagine, and it was new to me.

"I have tremendous sympathy for any people who face this anti-social behaviour that comes their way."

Most of the bags appeared to be deliberately lined up close to the walls of the site, and crowded around some of the park's huge trees.

Discarded newspapers, cuddly toys, board games, cleaning products and even an uneaten plate of chicken nuggets were also spotted across the field.

A spokesperson from Worcestershire County Council said this evening: "We are currently securing the site and are looking to begin the clearing process tomorrow."