Travellers set up camp at Aylestone Park, Hereford

Aylestone Park, which is run by volunteers, shared pictures of at least nine caravans, along with cars and vans, parked on the large car park at the back of the site, off the A465.

The travellers pitched up on Wednesday evening, with police visiting the site.

A spokesperson for the park added: "Unfortunately, it would appear that we have uninvited guests staying over in the large car park on the park.

"Should anyone see any malicious damage or destruction of park infrastructure please report it to Balfour Beatty and the police."

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West Mercia Police said officers would visit the popular park again today.

A spokesperson said: "At about 9pm on Wednesday, July 13 we received a number of reports of a number of caravans were parked land at Aylestone Park, Hereford.

"Officers attended and found no evidence of criminal damage but will visit again today."

The travellers turned up on Wednesday evening, but police say officers could not find evidence of criminal damage

A Herefordshire Council spokesperson said: “Herefordshire Council are aware of an unauthorised encampment in the grounds of Aylestone Park.

"Appropriate visits and actions are being undertaken to resolve the situation.”

Aylestone Park is on the northern boundary of Hereford city and extends to some 47 acres.

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The park has three distinct areas known as the “conservation" area on the upper area of the park, the “recreation” area and orchard on the hillsides and the mostly flat “sports” area.

The whole area is maintained, almost exclusively, by volunteers.

These volunteers constructed over five kilometres of stoned footpaths on the park, two viewpoints and a number of picnic areas during the past 18 years.

Summer solstice at Aylestone Park, Hereford, by Lorne Wilden

Britain in Bloom judges are due to visit the park next Wednesday (July 20) as their first stop on a circuit of the city to decide on the level of award this year.

"The Aylestone Park Association volunteers have worked so hard to get the park into a presentable condition and have been putting in lots of their time to make a park the city can be proud of," the park spokesperson added.