A CIVIL engineering expert who revealed that a Vale playing field was littered with dangerous items says he has identified a possible solution to the problem.

Kelvin Hughes, who runs Diggit Civil Engineering, of Evesham, said objects including rusty nails and shards of glass posed safety hazards to users of Littleton Recreation Ground.

The chairman of South Littleton Parish Council, Sir Timothy Harford, has, however, claimed that eventual completion of refurbishment work on the ground will ensure it is safe.

Mr Hughes was not convinced that the dangerous items would disappear once the field was grassed over, as the parish council had stated.

He said that by using a special £500,000 machine to process the ground's soil, it could be made safe by reducing the nails and glass to pulp. Mr Hughes added that a herbicide should also be put down.

After that, he added, the ground could be levelled off. "It would be pure, clean soil and the turf could be put on top of that and people could enjoy it," he explained.

Mr Hughes estimated it could cost £30,000 for his proposed solution to be carried out, saying: "It will be a big exercise to do."