A CLEAN-up will begin today to prepare Aireville Park for the Pride in the Park festival, now that an illegal encampment of travellers has vacated the site.

Around 20 caravans appeared early on Tuesday morning after forcefully entering through a locked gate in Harewood Road, off Gargrave Road.

Their presence caused concern that the town council-organised Pride event may not be able to go ahead.

A number of complaints were received by the district council of litter, anti-social behaviour and human waste on the park.

North Yorkshire Police were also asking schools to advise children not to walk to and from school through the park after some pupils complained of abuse directed towards them by the visitors.

Others said vehicles were being driven anti-socially around the park causing damage to the grass and dogs were running around off their leads causing concern to regular dog walkers.

The travellers were issued with a notice to leave by the district council by 4pm yesterday, Thursday, however that deadline came and went.

It is understood the visitors left late yesterday evening. Some piles of rubbish were evident around the park this morning, as were bin bags which the district council had issued to the travellers on Tuesday.

The district council said earlier this week that once the campers had left it would 'take steps to ensure the land is restored to a clean and tidy state'.

A spokesman for Craven Distrct Council said it was in the process of applying for a court order eysterday evenng after the deadline for the direction to leave had passed.

The council reassured residents that the park would be cleaned.

They added: "Illegal encampments cost thousands of pounds in clear-up and repair costs for the council due to the long-lasting damage to the natural surroundings. We are working closely with the police, who will investigate any reports of criminal behaviour."

The Pride in the Park takes place tomorrow between 12pm and 8pm and is the first such event to take place in Aireville Park.