A children's playground closed down after a group of travellers spent more than a week there has now re-opened.

Council officers cleared up the rubbish left at the site in Molesey Hurst Recreation Ground after the group left on Saturday.

The group had set up camp on Thursday, March 5, in West Molesey, but left before Elmbridge Council was due in court to seek a possession order for forced removal.

A council spokesman said: "The traveller site rubbish was left in a tidy state, but the rubbish left in plastic sacks, rather than in the metal bins. The bags were torn open by foxes and the rubbish was subsequently windblown over parts of the recreation ground.

"The play area was temporarily closed to allow a thorough clear up of the play area by our grounds maintenance contractor."

The children's playground opened again on Tuesday, March 17.