FRUSTRATED neighbours say they are ‘fed up’ after seeing travellers camped on fields outside their homes for a week.

Residents near the Hulton Lane playing fields, in Daubhill, say that as many as 25 caravans have been parked at the site since last Thursday.

They say the fields — which underwent a £474,000 renovation just three years ago — have been damaged, mounds of rubbish have piled up, and that human excrement has been seen behind the area’s changing rooms.

Bolton Council says it is working with police to remove the remaining travellers, after securing a court order.

Alison Heap, of Vigo Avenue, said: “The grass is being torn up because there are cars and vans driving the full length of it. “My daughter doesn’t want to go near the field and I won’t let my son go out and play football there.

“The council has spent all this money refurbishing the field and they will have to spent a lot to clear it up after the travellers have been moved off.

“But what we really need is to have railings around the fields to stop this from happening again.”

Another neighbour, who asked to remain anonymous, added: “There are a few mounds of rubbish, the play area has been taken over, and there are dogs running loose.

“All of the neighbours around here are asking why the council haven’t been able to move them off the site any quicker.

“It seems bizarre to me that the council has not acted when these fields are an area that it has spent so much money on it.

“You get a bit of a sinking feeling when you see all these caravans moving onto the field and people have just been getting more exasperated with the situation all week. We are fed up.”

A council spokesman said: “We obtained a court order to remove this encampment and most of the group, as of Tuesday afternoon, have left.

“There are still a number of caravans remaining and we are liaising with Greater Manchester Police to move them on, should they not leave.

“Any waste and rubbish that is on the site will be removed and our enforcement team will check for any evidence, that will allow us to fine or prosecute those responsible.”