Specialist cleansing contractors are to be sent in to clean up football fields left strewn with rubbish by travellers.

A group of around 70 travellers with 20 horses and 22 caravans set up camp on Old Bank Rec in Mirfield , staying for 10 days.

The travellers moved off on Sunday afternoon leaving stacks of rubbish behind.

Residents have also reported travellers defecating on the fields, which are used by a local football team.

The Examiner understands that Kirklees Council has removed the bulk of the rubbish and will return to ‘litter pick’ on Tuesday before specialist contractors carry out a ‘hygienic cleansing.’

Kirklees Council had secured an eviction notice which was due to be served at noon on Monday.

A local resident, who asked not to be named, described the travellers’ occupation as “horrific.”

She described how travellers: shouted abuse at an elderly woman with dementia and made her afraid to leave her home; defecated in open view of residents; threw rubbish into people’s gardens; had a fire near the goalposts; kept people awake with generators running all night; and confronted dog walkers telling them the fields belonged to them now.

“It’s the threats and intimidation that was the worst,” said the woman. “It’s been an horrific time for everyone.”

Some of the travellers moved from Old Bank Rec to the Rocket Park playground in Stocks Bank Road on Saturday night, breaking off a padlock on the gate.

Police were called and the following day the travellers moved off, along with the rest from Old Bank.

The woman told how a huge horse transporter was brought in to move the 20 horses. It was believed a foal was born at Old Bank.

It is not known where the travellers have gone though more caravans have pitched up at the Shaw Cross Sharks RL Club playing fields at Shaw Cross, Dewsbury, just days after police moved travellers on from the same place.

The woman said: “We have a real fear of them coming back.”

Residents in Mirfield were furious and held a hastily-arranged public meeting to discuss what could be done to secure sites.

The annual Mirfield Show will be held on Sunday and organisers have put new locks on the main gate and placed a large boulder in front of it in a bid to deter travellers.