THE last traveller in Pitmaston Park left at 9.59am this morning, one minute before a police notice deadline expired.

The council have closed the park to clean the site, which is covered with rubbish - including nappies, toilet paper and a gas canister. 

Residents have blamed the travellers for dumping rubbish in the park and tearing up the grass by the entrance, leaving muddy tracks near the gate.

The travellers left after a police notice was issued yesterday, which meant there was no need for further police involvement.

They moved onto the site on Sunday, to the outrage of residents who feared a repeat of last year's rubbish dumping problems.

Cllr Richard Udall, county councillor for St John's, predicted that the park will be shut for at least a week. 

"It's not acceptable. Hundreds use the park every week, we need to take immediate action to make sure this doesn't happen again," he said.

Cllr Udall says he has received between 10 to 12 reports about the travellers in the past two days.

"The neighbours have suffered lots in the last couple of days with the illegal occupation. They deserve an apology from the county council," Cllr Udall said. 

The councillor said he would ask for an apology on their behalf and proposed installing collapsible barriers or a height restriction to prevent a future occupation of the park.

"It's now happened twice. We must do everything in our power to make sure it doesn't happen for a third time," he said.

Lex Hooper wrote on facebook: "The cleaning team pulled in as we collected the kids from the school this afternoon.

"This is going to affect everyone who uses the park for a lot longer. It's disgusting."

Donna Chance wrote on facebook: "They are travellers who travel to seek work. This will never stop. Neither will the rubbish left or the hassle."

The police believe that lots of the travellers left last night and early this morning.

Closure notices have been placed on the gates to the park and Pitmaston Primary School. 

Cllr Lucy Hodgson, cabinet member for localism and communities said: "We do appreciate the inconvenience and in this case unpleasantness the arrival of travellers can cause local residents. 

"Prior to last year there had never been travellers at Pitmaston and it was hoped then it was a one off. After the event last year we took advice from our property management team and local police. 

"This resulted in the park gates, which were once open, becoming locked, and one permanently and the other locked daily with a heavy duty padlock based system by our park patrol whilst allowing access to maintenance vehicles. 

"Following this week’s event, we will be considering what further measures can be put in place to prevent an event similar to this happening again."