CHILDREN using playing fields in a Vale village are in danger of injury from hazards including rusty nails, spikes and glass, according to a civil engineering expert.

Kelvin Hughes has called for action to clear Littleton Recreation Ground of the debris before someone is hurt.

Mr Hughes, who runs Evesham-based Diggit Civil Engineering, was called in to look at the state of the fields, in Long Hyde Road, South Littleton, which are undergoing development for a new recreation pitch.

He was shocked by what he found. "It's contaminated with glass and six-inch rusty nails," he said.

Within 10 minutes of picking up some of the items, he had quarter filled a carrier bag with them.

"Kids, now on their school holidays, are playing on another side of the field, which could also be contaminated with these things, and there's no barrier or safety fence to stop kids running on to the contaminated section," added Mr Hughes.

"There's also a scout hut nearby."

He thought the debris had come from the remnants of Second World War army camp huts bulldozed in years gone by and had resurfaced when the fields were rotovated.

In Mr Hughes's opinion, the site would need to be excavated, a sealer and topsoil put in and the ground should be re-seeded.

Wychavon District Council's client services manager, Sharon Casswell, said the district council had been asked for advice on the general upkeep of the playing fields but that public safety issues were matters for the parish council.

"The parish council did ask for some advice and a professionally qualified officer did give horticultural advice," she explained, "She has given advice to the parish. It's their responsibility to make a decision in light of health and safety."

No-one from South Littleton Parish Council was available to comment as the Journal went to press.