Bracebridge park near retirement estate in Worksop left with piles of rubbish by travellers

Among the mess were bags of rotting food piled high, over 30 dumped oil containers and even a bag of brand new canvas shoes.

Councillors say the dumped refuse - discovered after seven caravans departed on Tuesday night - will cost the taxpayer ‘thousands’ to clean up.

Most of the domestic waste cannot be taken to a household recycling centre but will need to be hauled by lorry to a landfill site.

Josie Potts, Worksop South East councillor, described the scene on the field near High Hoe Road as ‘horrendous’.

The councillor - who has served the area for 14 years - told how she was ‘bombarded’ with phone calls from scared pensioners living in bungalows on nearby Garside Street during the travellers’ six-week stay at the site.

She said: “I’ve had vulnerable, elderly people calling me saying they don’t feel safe - one of them phoned me at 9pm on Monday saying they were racing around in cars.

“My main concern is for the people who live in this ward - they shouldn’t have to put up with what these travellers leave behind.

“People move into bungalows for peace and quiet - it’s normally lovely down here.”

Councillor Potts is calling for Government legislation to be changed - allowing local councils such as Bassetlaw to evict travellers from public land more quickly.

At present authorities have to follow a long-winded process including proving ownership of the land, assessing a camp’s effects on the local area and serving notices and court summonses.

However during the time it takes to see a camp moved on costly damage is often done to public parks.

Josie said: “All the council can do is go to the bailiffs and this is costing the tax-payer thousands of pounds.

“These people can just pull up and bolt-crop their way into public land and no-one can do anything about it.

“Fly tipping is a huge problem right now and to me what’s happened here is fly tipping - the council cares but our hands are tied and this just isn’t fair.”

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