Human excrement has been left behind by travellers moving across Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.

A group of travellers initially arrived at the Lower Rec site in Highworth last week.

The town council warned anyone who has an allotment at the Old Golf Course site to not use the water troughs as they have been contaminated.

A sign placed near the Lower Rec site reads: "Do not use this area. The rubbish has been cleared however the human waste remains.

"The Environmental Team at Swindon Borough Council is required to assess the area."

After Wiltshire Police directed the travellers to leave the site, they moved on to the playing fields next to the village hall in Lechlade on Saturday morning.

Simon Paul, chairman of trustees, said in a Facebook post that there had been 'unpleasant anti-social behaviour'.

After the travellers left last night he added: "We are aware of human and dog excrement which is a safety hazard.

"We will put up notices but as a minimum children should not be allowed anywhere on the playing field without adult supervision.

"We will try to make the site safe as soon as possible but some facilities may be out of use for some time."

The travellers have now arrived at the Coln House School playing fields in Fairford.

A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Police said: "Police were called on Saturday (24 July) with a report that a group of travellers had moved onto a site at Memorial Hall in Lechlade.

"The group are believed to have arrived on Saturday morning and no offences or crimes were disclosed by the caller.

"Neighbourhood Policing officers worked alongside Cotswolds District Council to provide any support that was required and the group have now left the site.

"The group has moved to Fairford and officers have made the local council aware."

A spokesperson for Gloucestershire County Council said: "We visited the rugby field at Coln School, Fairford to carry out a welfare check and serve a section 77 notice which informs the travellers that they are illegally occupying land at the rugby club and should leave the area immediately.

“If they remain, our next action would be to serve a court summons which will allow us to obtain a court order and instruct bailiffs to move them on. As soon as the site is vacated, we will arrange for it to be cleaned straightaway.”