Images of the mess left in spaces around Beddington Park following an encampment by travellers have emerged online.

Huge piles of rubbish, discarded furniture such as deckchairs, and several plastic bags are among what can be seen scattered across the public space.

While the group of travellers who moved into Beddington Park have since left, another incident of encampment in Poulter Park was flagged up on the morning of July 9.

One witness, who does not wish to be named, said: “When I saw that mess, I could not believe it. I didn't even take photos of all the rubbish, some of it was just too far away.

“I almost put my foot in one of those little takeaway plastic containers and it was full of poo, buzzing with flies around it. It was disgusting, I have to say, it was really disgusting.

READ: Group of travellers set up camp in Beddington Park

“It's a beautiful park [Beddington Park], I love it. I love it so much. I tell everybody to go to the park because it's such a beautiful park, and when I saw that my heart just sank. Then when I saw the mess they left behind, I could not believe it.

“Obviously, someone has to clean that up.”

At the moment, it’s said the mess which has been left is going to be cleaned up in due course.

But Cllr Nick Mattey is urging for Sutton Council to bring about tighter security measures in a bid to ensure safety in Beddington Park.

He wants there to be better security as well as CCTV coverage on the gates which enable access into the public space.

Cllr Mattey said: “The trouble is, it's had about £3 million worth of lottery money spent on it and the park is not secure.

“It just means that unless those gates are monitored to see who, if anybody, is trying to break in [then] there's nothing that can be done.

“It's just very, very expensive to get people to try and leave.”

READ: Poulter Park: Council forced to step in after travellers set up camp

According to the council, police attend locations of traveller encampments before establishing details such as the number of caravans on site and whether any criminal offences have been committed.

Then an assessment is made to see if any police powers should be used to move them on, however, “it must be borne in mind that trespass is not a criminal offence”.

This means police cannot take “immediate enforcement action” or make the travellers move on.

It’s after the police are involved that the council will then arrange removal, which could take up to five days and involves “a number of legal requirements”.

Later, a decision is made on if they should remain on site or leave and enforcement notices are drafted if it is legally appropriate to.

However, if travellers refuse to move on by the time and date of the legal notice then bailiffs are brought in and this can sometimes involve police.

READ: Responding to illegal gypsy and traveller encampments on council land

Cllr Mattey added: “The other thing that isn't happening as well is that the council have employed a security firm to ticket people and issue PCNs [penalty charge notices] on anybody that's parking illegally.

“But they're not issuing them on the travellers. That's wrong.

“If anybody parks illegally, for whatever reason, they should get a PCN.”