A WORCESTER park left a filthy mess by travellers is to remain closed until at least tomorrow afternoon due to health and safety concerns, it has emerged.

Your Worcester News can reveal how Pitmaston Park is undergoing a major disinfection after travellers dumped a trail of hazardous waste at the site.

A team of council workers took the sudden decision to close the park off yesterday evening after dog faeces, dirty nappies, toilet paper, bags of household rubbish, fast food, clothes, toys and even vomit was left strewn on the fields.

Worcestershire County Council, which owns the park, today said its "principal concern" was that of the public and even tomorrow’s possible re-opening cannot be guaranteed.

The trail of filth also led to a raft of children's summer holiday activities due to take place at the park being moved this morning.

The activities like football, cricket and tennis all ended up taking place at Lower Wick Green due to the concerns.

More people living in St John's contacted this newspaper today to voice their anger over the mess.

One neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said she left the fields in tears after being abused and having water chucked at her.

"I used to have no problem with travellers but I've done a complete u-turn after this," she said.

"I am so angry about it, I walk my dog there and they turned one part of the field into a human toilet, it's a cesspit.

"On one of the days they went past and chucked water at me, it's only water but it felt symbolic, it was like they were saying 'we don't want you here'.

"They stuff they've left there is just unbelievable, it's actually disgusting."

Other people walking past the park last night said the smell from it could be detected from outside the front gates, which were padlocked.

A Worcestershire County Council spokesman said: “Following the voluntary departure yesterday of the travellers camped on Pitmaston Park, we secured the site last night.

“We met with city council colleagues this morning to assess the extent of the clean-up required.

"The park will remain closed to the public in the interim.

“We hope the clean-up can be carried out quickly so that we can re-open the park to the public as soon as possible.

“This is likely to be later tomorrow following clean-up and disinfection.

“Our principal concern has to be that of the public, however we cannot confirm timescales until we have inspected the work and are satisfied it is safe to be reopened."

The county council had threatened the travellers with legal action before they left the fields yesterday afternoon, with the last caravan gone by around 3pm.

They arrived last Friday, with four caravans pitching up at first, but their numbers are now believed to have swelled to around 20 over the weekend, some neighbours said today.