A field in Knaresborough has been sealed off by police and deemed to be a health hazard due to the amount of human excrement left by travellers.
Knaresborough Wombles, a voluntary group that keeps Knaresborough tidy, planned to lead a mass tidy up of Hay-a-Park rugby field today.
But some volunteers were met by police this morning and asked to stay away because of the threat to human health.
Harrogate Borough Council, which owns the land, had served an eviction notice on the travellers for what it described as an illegal encampment.
Travellers left yesterday and many locals, shocked by the state of the field, had offered to help with the clean-up.
Some of the rubbish left in the field.
Andy Bell, who lives near the site and set up Knaresborough Wombles, told the Stray Ferret he and others had planned to return today to sort out the mess.
But he added:
“The police have advised us to refrain from cleaning the area because it is a health hazard.”
A police spokesman said:
“This is a council matter. We attended to tape off the area to protect the public prior to the council attending to deal with it.”
The Stray Ferret has asked Harrogate Borough Council for an update on the situation.
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