Teenagers trashed a play area during a Christmas drinking binge just months after it was closed to stop frequent vandalism.

One resident claims he almost had a heart attack after seeing the scale of damage to the playground and his rear fence at Hawkeridge Park, Westbury on Saturday evening.

The play area was fenced off in September after vandals left the site unsafe for young children to play.

Now residents are fuming after discovering more than 50 empty alcohol bottles during one Christmas binge.

The resident, who did not want to be named, said: "That place is awfully abused I can't understand people with young children allowing these yobbos to get in there. If you say anything to them you get abuse thrown back at you and it's becoming a disgusting area. I almost had a heart attack when I woke up on Sunday and saw what they had done."

Despite locked gates, youngsters still regularly use the children's play area behind Hawkeridge Park to drink and play football.

On Monday West Wiltshire District Council Cleansing Team were called in to clear up the mess.

The resident said: "Our council, in all their wisdom, have locked the main gates but left a gap in the back fence for everyone to get through. Saturday night was one big drinking session and I found things in my garden which have nothing to do with me."

Now residents and councillors are leading fresh calls to open new facilities for youngsters in the area to use.

Heywood parish councillor, Joyce Smith said: "The play area is littered with drinks bottles. They must have been boozing; it's an absolute disgrace. We reckon there are at least 50 drinks bottles, cans and cartons there.

"We have had horrendous problems this side of the road, there is nowhere for youngsters to go to let off steam."

Over £14,000 needs to be spent on the children's play area behind Hawk-eridge Park to make it safe again.

Two new playgrounds are waiting completion on a nearby housing development but delays means work has yet to begin on either play area.

Town councillor Bill Braid said: "The sites will be there for the kids in the surrounding areas who have nowhere left to go. At present it is just a grassless mound of earth that is no use to anybody."