PILES of rubbish, unlicensed anglers and teenagers lighting fires are just some of the concerns people have raised about the state of a park in Rayleigh.

A public meeting saw concerns raised about Sweyne Park by residents with local councillors, police and headteachers.

Most of the worries were about litter and antisocial behaviour, including underage drinking.

Hayley Bloomfield, 39, of Downhall Park Way, said: “There were two camp fires lit there on Saturday night.

“I had to turn them over on Sunday morning to cool them down. That’s antisocial.

“I have nothing against people having a good time, but not if it affects other people.

“Where are the police when these things happen?”

Some people raised concerns about unlicensed anglers using the park lake and not cleaning up after themselves. Others mentioned their dogs had been injured after treading on barbed hooks left behind.

There were also calls for nearby supermarket Asda to work with the Sweyne Park volunteers to try to improve the park, because it was identified as a source of much of the litter.

Rodney Jones, 63, said: “We have a big problem.

“I have lived near this park for two years, and the amount of rubbish in the park since Asda opened has quadrupled.”

Other residents raised concerns about youngsters using motorbikes on the bridle path and a horse-rider who used the path said she sometimes encountered hostility from joggers and cyclists.

Dave Cordes, 61, called for the return of park wardens, which he said had been a great success in parts of London in dealing with antisocial behaviour.

Rochford District Council plans to set up a voluntary group of park users called the Friends of Sweyne Park, who would help the council keep the park clean and suggest ways it could be made better.

Alan Lovett, the council’s streetscene and open spaces manager, said: “If there’s a desire for more bins in the park, we can look at that.

“You tell us where you think these bins should be placed.

“The point of this meeting is to ask the community how to plan and develop where the park goes in the future.”

Another meeting is planned at Sweyne Park School some time in November, and it is hoped people will come forward to be involved with the “friends” group. Anyone interested in helping out at the park should call Heather Meggison at the council on 01702 546366 or e-mail beafriend@rochford.gov.uk