VOLUNTEERS began the hard job of clearing up after the North Wiltshire Festival site was left littered with rubbish on Monday.

North Wiltshire District Council cleansing and amenity staff were called in to tidy up Monkton Park, which was invaded by more than 20,000 visitors during the three-day event that started on Friday.

The council undertook a major cleanup on Sunday morning after the Saturday night concert left the park covered in food wrappings, drink cans and general rubbish.

Volunteers were enlisted and many people who had enjoyed the evening's entertainment took to the field with black rubbish bags in hand and made a start on the massive operation.

Other people left piles of their rubbish next to the black bags. A spokesman for the council said: "The piles of rubbish left next to the bags made the cleanup easier for litter pickers. The litter clearing on Sunday started at 6am and was complete by 9am. It was undertaken by a team from the cleansing and amenities department and a team of stewards."

The festival cost around £100,000 to stage, but if all goes well, it will not cost the council tax payer a penny.

The district council hopes it will have covered the costs with sponsorship and the sale of exhibition space, though a £10,000 contingency fund has been set aside in case ends do not meet.