PARENTS were disgusted to find a popular playgound at a country park littered with beer bottles, dog muck, dirty nappies and used needles.

Liana Boosey’s family was one of many which headed for Wat Tyler Country Park, Pitsea, yesterday to enjoy the first day of the school holidays – only to be shocked by the state of the park.

Ms Boosey, 31, arrivedwith son, Joshuah Sparks, eight, just after 9am to discover dirty nappies flung over picnic tables, broken glass scattered around play equipment, patches of dog mess on the grass and two needles by the edge of the playground.

Basildon Council, which runs the park, has blamed the litter on foxes and crows foraging in the park’s bins overnight.

Ms Boosey said: “I saw mums walk in, have a look and go straight back out.

“People come to Wat Tyler because it’s a free day out for the kids. They don’t expect to find it in this state. It’s disgusting.

“Why are there needles and empty vodka and beer bottles in the playground anyway? That’s not what you expect when the gates are closed overnight.

“I’m not going to come back here, but there aren’t many places to take kids for free.

“I’m a single parent and any money I have needs to go on food and paying my bills.”

Leanne Philpott, 42, of Jermayns, Laindon, was also at the park yesterday with her daughter, Megan, eight.

She said: “Someone should be coming to the park first thing every morning to make sure it’s safe for the kids.

“It’s the start of six week holidays, so it’s obvious everyone will be coming here.

“I know the council sent someone pretty soon after we complained, but by then, kids had already stepped in dog mess and could have been injured by broken glass if we mums didn’t start clearing up.”

The park is open from 9am until 6pm daily, with its gates remaining locked overnight.

A spokesman for Basildon Council said: “It’s a fairly normal occurrence for foxes and crows to rummage through waste bins in the park scavenging for food.

“On this occasion, they chose the bins in the children’s play area. Every morning, our litter pickers patrol the park.

“The rubbish in the play area was cleared by 11am, as part of their morning litter pick