CIVIC officials were forced to close the children’s play area at Whitecliff in Poole after excrement was smeared on some of the play equipment, it has been confirmed.

Police and council contractors closed the play area earlier this morning.

Witnesses told the Daily Echo six police officers and two Borough of Poole contractor vehicles attended the popular park at 11am.

One shocked mum said: “There will be a lot of very disappointed resident’s children.”

Wire barricades were placed across three entrances with a notice apologising for any inconvenience caused. The signs have since been removed.

A council spokesman said: "The signs have not been removed by the Borough of Poole. The park will not be reopened until it has been fully cleaned and this is not likely to be until the weekend."

Borough of Poole regulatory team manager Jeff Morley explained: “We have temporarily closed Whitecliff play park as excrement was found on some of the play equipment.

“There is no evidence to suggest that the nearby travellers were responsible for this and we hope to reopen the park as quickly as possible.”

Feelings are running high in the community after a group of Irish travellers moved onto Whitecliff last week, from a public car park at Baiter, hours before a court deadline.

They have since been served with another notice ordering them to leave the site. The council is due to go to court on Monday morning.

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