Cleaners worked around the clock to shift a mountain of rubbish left by more than 100,000 visitors to the Pride festival.

As the party spilled out of Preston Park into Brighton's many gay bars and clubs, organisers faced a clear-up operation costing £10,000.

The Pride in Brighton and Hove organising committee employed 45 workers to bin several tonnes of debris including plastic bottles, condoms and takeaway wrappers.

A spokeswoman for Brighton and Hove City Council, which is responsible for parks, said: "Pride was a hugely successful event attracting well over 100,000 people into Preston Park.

"With such a major event, it is not unusual for the clear-up to take a couple of days.

"The council worked closely with Pride, proving extra litter bins and recycling facilities in the park."

Some park users felt the cleaning - expected to be completed by lunchtime today - had come too late and branded the area a health hazard.

Scott Fisher, of Preston Park Avenue, said: "I walked out of my house and there were people starting to clear up. But it is pretty grim.

"We were sitting down in the park on Sunday on a cleaner patch we found and there was no one around.

"I've got nothing against Pride and I definitely wouldn't say that it should be stopped.

"It should just be cleared up quicker. The place was a no-go area on Sunday."

Computer programmer Mr Fisher, 34, described the mess as "carnage".

He said: "I have been to Mardi Gras in Australia, where you get a million people, and they clean up Sydney within hours."

The 26-hectare park - bought by Brighton Corporation in 1883 for £50,000 - was the town's first and largest.

Its flower beds, rock gardens and mature elm trees make it a popular venue for thousands of visitors each weekend.

Mr Fisher's views underlined the mood of several people living near the park.

Student James More, 22, of Beaconsfield Villas, said: "It does look a bit of a tip.

"People shouldn't just drop rubbish everywhere, Pride or no Pride. They should use the bins provided."

Charles Jackson, of Preston Park Avenue, said: "I did go into the park yesterday but I had anticipated it would be a mess."

Pride in Brighton and Hove spokesman Jamie Hakim said yesterday: "There are 45 people working up at the park now.

"Their estimate is that they have got a quarter at most left to do and they are ahead of schedule.

"I am sorry people are upset by the rubbish but it was a big event and we are right on top of it."