Malvern Hills Conservators are drawing up an action plan to tackle problems at Moat Pond in Sherrard's Green.

Residents have complained of items being dumped in the river and rubbish making the site an eyesore.

The conservators also want to lower the threat of pollution posed by a nearby manhole cover, following a sewage leak which killed more than 500 fish in May.

Anthony Buxton, who lives at Moat Court opposite the pond, said the area was often mistreated.

"It regularly has cars dumped in it and motorbikes driven around it in the evening," he said.

"I pulled out one glue sniffer who was up to his neck in the water and then he tried to take a swipe at me because I was taking away his bag of glue.

"The pond should be a really lovely beauty spot but it's rather sinister at night.

"It's a rather dark side of Malvern."

Farmer Charles Williams, who lives in Madresfield Road, said: "It's getting terrible really.

"There's all sorts of things happening down there; lighting of fires, burning cars, throwing rubbish all about."

His neighbour Mike Colwell agreed there were problems but said they were not regular.

"It's a very pretty area down here, one of the nicest avenues of trees in Malvern and it's just being spoiled by this untidiness," said Mr Colwell.

At a meeting of the conservators' land management committee, conservation officer David Whitehorne outlined his hopes for the area.

"I want to look at proactive ways and management methods that could try to improve the situation," he said.

Conservators rejected hiring an outside consultant meaning Mr Whitehorne will have to draft the plan.

No deadline was set for its completion.