TRAVELLERS left an estimated '15 to 20 lorry loads' of junk behind when they vacated an Abingdon football pitch this evening.

The fleet of about 20 vehicles finally moved on from Barrows Hill, off Audlett Drive, at approximately 5pm - almost one week after they were ordered to vacate the site.

One resident said the field and surrounding woodland is now 'adorned with used toilet paper' after the group left the area in a mess.

Read again: Residents want more to be done to prevent illegal encampments

The items left behind include 'household and garden rubbish, tree trunks, mattresses and a very old washing machine', he added.

The white lines on the pitch also appear to have been damaged by quad bikes.

This comes after the Travellers ignored an order to leave the pitch by midday on Thursday, prompting frustrated residents to call for more to be done to prevent illegal encampments.

An eviction notice was due to go before Oxford Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Herald Series:

Oxfordshire County Council was notified of the Travellers' arrival on Thursday, March 28, with the council's Gypsy and Traveller service visiting the site the next day.

The group was issued with a formal notice that they were trespassing and told the council code of conduct, while welfare and health checks were completed.

Read again: Chaos as Travellers hook up to other people's electricity

On April 2, the Travellers were served with a direction to leave by 12pm on Thursday, April 4.

The barrier at the entrance of the car park has now been closed and the padlocks and chains at each end reconnected.

A notice to leave from May 2018 is still posted at the site, from when travellers trespassed last year.