RATS, graffiti and litter are destroying Black Bear Park and turning it into an 'intimidating' location according to nearby residents.

The park, off Loushers Lane, has also become a problem for dog owners, with claims of injuries to their pets due to the discarded waste.

One resident, Jason Carr, who lives a short distance away from the park entrance, is adamant that the council is ignoring the needs of the community to focus on things they deem bigger for the town.

He has been left stunned by the sudden deterioration of the site since moving to the town two years ago.

"It is ideal for me and my wife to walk our dog, Alfie, at the park as we live close but the park is just getting worse," he said.

"There is now the fear of crime when we go to walk there and it is becoming intimidating - we want action taken to improve it, as for us it is a priority.

"Now with the waste on the park, there are environmental issues and I have saw rats in the litter.

"I was told that it would be assessed in the new year but I am yet to see anything which has been done, it cannot be ignored."

Latchford councillors have been made aware of the problem by Mr Carr but he remains unhappy with the amount of work done to improve the state of the park.

He added: "With the dark nights it seems even more of a dangerous place to be walking about and people may avoid it.

"We still go there to walk but do sometimes have to take alternate routes as a result of it.

"It also impacts on children as some of the things left on the site could cause serious harm to them if they do come across them."