GATES at a popular park could be locked overnight in a bid to stop piles of rubbish being dumped.

Basildon Council is considering a series of security measures for Wick County Park, Wickford, after flytippers targeted the land for the second time in a week.

Yesterday, visitors discovered old mattresses and other household items had been dumped by the children’s play area.

It comes just seven days after a large pile of bricks, rubble and sand was discovered at the Tresco Way entrance.

Phil Turner, leader of Basildon Council said: “We took the decision to keep gates open to cut money from our budget, but when something like this keep recurring that influences the way we move forward.

“We’re also considering surveillance, and are looking into the possibility of installing cameras.

“It’s false economy to keep the gates open, but then pay to get the rubbish removed, because that costs a fortune.

“There is no excuse for flytipping, and it isn’t fair on law abiding citizens. We’re proud of our parks.”

The Echo revealed last month residents around Lake Meadows Park, Billericay, were being asked to take on the responsibility of locking the gates themselves, to stop teenagers taking legal highs there after dark. It came after cylinders of nitrous oxide, known as laughing gas, were found scattered on the grass.

David Harrison, Wickford Ukip councillor for Wickford Park, has suggested a similar scheme in Wick County Park.

Flytippers have now dumped rubbish at the park, set in 50 acres of former farm land, five times in the past six months.

Mr Harrison said: “If we shut the gates at night time we will stop the flytipping. It’s happening far too frequently now. We need to just get on with sorting it out.”

Basildon Council stopped shutting park gates overnight two years ago in a bid to cut £80,000 from its annual budget.