An earth bank built to deter travellers from a park has been flattened only weeks later - at a total cost of £5,000.

Brighton and Hove City Council built the mound in Wild Park, off the Lewes Road in Moulsecoomb, Brighton, to stop travellers setting up camp in the park.

Residents launched a campaign to have it removed, protesting with placards and collecting signatures for a petition.

They said the council had not consulted them before going ahead with the project.

Labour Councillor Francis Tonks took up their complaints and a meeting was held with council officials in the park.

As a result, the council agreed to get rid of the mound and reinstate the park's border. Wooden poles were suggested as an alternative to deter travellers.

The council has revealed the cost of building and removing the mound is expected to be more than £5,000.

A spokesman said residents in other areas where similar work had been carried out had welcomed the measures.

He hoped the row of wooden stumps would be "more agreeable to residents, while also creating adequate security against joyriders, travellers and fly-tipping".

Mandy Chapman, of the North Moulsecoomb Residents' Association, was one of the campaigners against the mound and said the £5,000 was a waste of public money.

She said: "It could have been used for a lot of other, more important, things."