TRAVELLERS who set up camp on a recreation ground in Wootton Bassett Road left behind seven lorry-loads of junk.

The group arrived at the recreation ground on Wootton Bassett Road at the start of August and only left two days ago.

But when they abandoned the site, they left behind black bags full of rubbish, a chicken hut and more rubbish including a half-eaten KFC.

This resulted in Swindon Borough Council clearing seven truckloads of rubbish from the area.

Labour councillor for the area Bob Wright says the council needs to do more to stop this happening in the future.

Coun Wright said: “I want to see a long-term solution and that means having quality sites for travellers.

“I don’t think a council can go about saying ‘here’s a site’ and it not being good because it won’t be used.

“There has to be facilities that you would have at a normal campsite that’s attractive to people to go and stay.

“So when they get offered it they actually go.”

Coun Wright added: “We don’t pay our taxes to pay the cost of them.

“Given the choice between paying the cost of cleaning up after them or putting money into social care for a care home, I want my money to go to a care home.”

A borough council spokesman said: “Members of staff from our waste team attended the site and began to clear the mess that had been left.

“They have worked hard all day and collected seven truckloads of rubbish in total.

“Further work to remove the substantial quantities of what appears to be domestic green waste will take place on Monday morning when a suitable tractor and trailer will be available for use.

“We are confident that our strategy for dealing with encampments of this nature is sound.

“In this particular case, the group did not have permission to enter the site and refused to move to an alternative one when one was offered.

“They failed to leave when they said they would and legal action was taken that resulted in their eventual removal.”