Last week the Mail reported on the arrival of the 15-caravan band which set up camp near to New Bayview stadium on a patch of training ground.

The travellers told the Mail to expect an extended stay but just a few days later they were gone.
They pulled out of their camp site on Friday as investigations into vandalism and allegations from neighbouring residents were being investigated.

East Fife director Dave Marshall, who was tending the ground for training routines, has the unpleasant task of leading the clean-up.

"They've left all sorts of rubbish down here and have really made a mess," he said on Monday.

"There are huge cuts in the grass plus all their rubbish – the players certainly won't be able to use it now anyway."

Mr Marshall said that as well as general waste the travellers had also emptied their chemical toilets on to the patch of land before leaving at around 11am on Friday.

"As I was running the grass cutter over it you could smell the stench and there was all sorts lying there," added Mr Marshall.

"I was hoping environmental health staff would come down and help me but they're not going to."

But the director was optimistic that the land would be fit again soon for use by the East Fife Junior Supporters Club.

East Fife secretary Jim Stevenson also told the Mail some of the turf would now be needing re-set, which is likely to add to the cost of the legal advice the club sought when the travellers arrived.

Levenmouth Chief Inspector Andy Morris of Fife Police confirmed one person from the travelling group had been arrested following the vandalism of a padlock at the site and has been reported to the procurator fiscal.

He was unable to confirm that inquiries into another incident involved a member of the same group but investigations were continuing.