PLAY areas and watersports will open at Poole Park from Saturday.

The Ark and The Kitchen will also open for the first time since the start of lockdown in March.

A huge clean-up operation has been under way at the park since a large group of travellers left the cricket pitch on Sunday.

Members of the public volunteered to help after travellers left the park strewn with litter and human waste.

A spokesman for the park said: "On Sunday afternoon after the travellers using Poole Park left the site, local people took it upon themselves to help clean the park up. Armed with their own bin bags and litter pickers they worked around the cricket pitch and surrounding area.

"We would like to say a massive thank you to all those who helped to get Poole Park tidied up and in good condition for park users Monday morning.

"Since then the park clean up has continued and portaloos removed from site, meaning things are returning to normal once more.

"The temporary security measures are also being relaxed to let park users in to through the East Gate and Whitecliff entrances once more."