A group of travellers that was ejected from Golborne Park last week has left van-loads of commercial and domestic waste at the site of the former pit colliery, known locally as The Bonk.

Councillors and residents are livid that the group, which is made up of between 15 and 20 caravans, was allowed to get away

with such desecration and that taxpayers will end up footing the bill.

To stop them returning, the entrance to the park is currently blocked by two piles of tar.

Clr Peter Franzen, of Wigan Council's Community Action Party, said: "They have wreaked a trail of havoc.

"They could not have made a bigger mess if they wanted to!

"The clean-up bill is going to run into thousands of pounds."

He added: "The park has been turned into a rubbish tip and an open toilet with domestic waste strewn all over the area and countless truck-loads of commercial waste dumped on and among the trees and shrubs."

The councillor said the travellers had been knocking on doors in the town offering to trim trees and fix gutters.

When the travellers first arrived in the park Clr Franzen asked them to keep the area clean and gave them directions to the near-by tip.

A burnt-out van, empty paint tins and chopped conifer trees are among the debris dumped in the park.

A spokesman for Wigan Council said: "We have now got to get a contractor out to clear up the site. The annoying thing is there were plans to put a gate on the site just before they arrived. That will still go ahead."

He added: "This is a waste of council taxpayers' money. They have no right to leave such a mess for others to clean up."

It is believed that the travellers have now moved on to Bickershaw.

DON'T COME BACK HERE!