TRAVELLERS have moved on from a Worcestershire playing field after staying for four nights and interrupting eight matches.

Council personnel have begun removing the litter that had been left by the visitors, with a deep-clean of the area scheduled for tomorrow.

Considerable disruption has been caused since the group moved onto St Peter's playing fields, in Droitwich, on Friday evening - forcing the postponement of eight junior football matches, the switching of the final cricket fixtures of the summer to other grounds and a delay to the start of crucial end-of-season work on the two cricket pitches. The pitches are used by Droitwich Spa Cricket Club and Droitwich Spa Boys & Girls Football Club. Both say they have incurred additional costs for security to keep the area safe for members and the general public that enjoy the facilities.

A Go Fund Me page set up by the clubs on Tuesday has already received donations worth more than £1,800 to put towards this cost and the clean-up with any money left over used to improve security to prevent similar incidents in the future.

“The last weekend of the cricket season was ruined and cricket and football matches were called off due to safety and welfare issues as well as hygiene concerns with both clubs losing valuable funds due to the need to bring in security,” said Martyn Davies, DSCC Chairman. “On the plus side, we’ve received incredible support from the people of Droitwich who have voiced their backing for future deterrents but also made donations to our Go Fund Me Page and help and advice from local councillors and police so thank you to everyone who has given money and their time so generously.”

He added: “We were fortunate that the weather has been dry over recent days as the travellers’ vehicles would have caused more damage to the pitches if the ground was wet. Work was halted on our clubhouse refurbishment so this can resume again but we cannot afford for this investment to be jeopardised again.

"We’re now calling on the local authorities to put measures in place as soon as possible to prevent illegal access onto our pitches and the surrounding parkland that are used and enjoyed by the local community.”