RUBBISH from a camp set up by rough sleepers has STILL not been cleared more than a week after it was dismantled by police.

Officers from West Mercia Police issued dispersal notices (section 35 notices) to four rough people from the camp on a grassed area near Shrub Hill Road, outside the front of the railway station, last Wednesday.

Despite officers going beyond the call of duty, clearing away three mattresses and stacking them neatly against a wall (and even searching for a wheelie bin in which to dispose of some of the mess), the bulk of the rubbish had still not been cleared by this afternoon (Thursday) because Worcester City Council plans to bring in specialist contractors to get rid of it.

A spokesman for Worcester City Council said: "We are in the process of bringing in a specialist contractor to remove this waste, and this has taken longer than we hoped.

"We apologise for any inconvenience the delay has caused, however we have had to engage specialists because of the possibility of the waste containing material that needs to be disposed of appropriately."

Dirty blankets, crushed cans and other rubbish were put in bin bags by police.

Since then the bags have been torn open and the mess, which also includes a wooden crate and the mattresses, completely blocks the pavement as these photos show.

One man who works nearby had to walk on the grass to navigate the hazard.

The man, who did not wish to be named, said: "Myself and colleagues are disgusted by the mess and that the council have not picked it up after the police did their job for them. It is attracting rats and vermin.

"One girl was sleeping there the following night until police moved her on. It's unbelievable. They just move them on but they have nowhere to go."

A resident who also wished to remain anonymous raised concerns that, because the mattresses and bedding had not been disposed of by the council, the camp could easily be re-established.

Police acted after receiving around 20 complaints about the camp from both residents and businesses and arrived with CPP, the Worcestershire Homelessness Prevention Service, who offered support and advice as they tried to find the rough sleepers alternative accommodation.

There have been reports of an incident of grievous bodily harm at the camp which remains subject to police investigation.

Part of the camp had also been used as a toilet and it was felt that it created a bad impression of Worcester at one of the key gateways to the city, being one of the first thing visitors would see after disembarking from a train at Shrub Hill Railway Station.

Jonathan Sutton, chief executive of St Paul's Hostel, which is near the hostel has urged the pooling of resources to tackle rough sleeping or warns other camps could spring up around the city.

Mr Sutton attacked shops that sell 'cheap, brain-liquefying booze' to rough sleepers and said as a society we must not give up on rough sleepers, many of whom are living with mental health problems or a long legacy of abuse and neglect which extends deep into their childhoods.