A fightback has begun following a "chain of destruction" caused by travellers on a park in Marlow, as the council looks to prosecute the group for the damage.

Marlow Town Council revealed they had to dip into a taxpayers' reserve fund to fork out close to £900 for a clean up job after caravans descended on Seymour Court Recreation Ground last weekend.

Mayor Bob Johnson criticised the mess left by the group, which included rubbish, damage from bonfires, the removal of trees and foliage and a broken gate that was smashed open.

Council officers also say toilet waste could also be seen left on the field near the play area used by children at the two nearby primary schools.

And as well as forifying its land to prevent future breaches, the council says it has enlisted the help of Bucks County Council to bring a prosecution of flytipping over the two-day invasion.

BCC enforcement officer Chris Smith said: "Bucks County Council, representing the Waste Partnership for Buckinghamshire, is investigating a case of fly-tipping which took place at Seymour Court Recreation Ground in Marlow between June 4 and 6 this year.

"Evidence has been collected from the site, but the investigation remains in its very early stages."

The traveller group of around 12 caravans has now left the immediate area, after camping out at three separate sites across Marlow over the last two weeks. Their identity is not yet known.

Neighbours reported significant disruption after their arrival on Thursday, with one resident, who did not want to be named, reporting "shouting, kids running round litter and dogs everywhere."

Mayor Bob Johnson, who attended the site both during and after the group arrived, praised council staff and police, who oversaw the eviction on Saturday.

He said: "I would like to thank the Police on behalf of the Community and all at the Town Council for the professional way in which they handled this eviction.’ "It is an unfortunate aftermath of travellers, the chain of destruction they create.

"This was all carried out in a very professional manner, but at a price.

"Though we do have a contingency amount, we do not budget for such destructive influences on our properties.

"And the costs incurred to effect this speedy clean up and to secure the park, will have to be found from reserves.

"We will be conducting a complete review of our public areas, to ensure that we are as secure as possible from such invasions happening again."