GIPSIES left a Newport school playing field last night after police and council chiefs ordered them off the land.

A dozen black rubbish bags, used nappies and tyres were found dumped in trees and bushes around Duffryn High School's rugby pitch this morning.

A pile of rubbish, including clothes and carpets, was left in the middle of the field.

Pupils at Duffryn were unable to use the field for rugby, football and athletics activities yesterday after more than 20 caravans moved onto the site opposite the school on Friday afternoon.

And there are now fears lack of sanitation at the site could lead to the field being out of action for some time until health and safety inspectors have declared it safe.

Witnesses claimed the gipsies caused traffic chaos when they ripped a gate from its hinges and entered the field around 4.30pm on Friday.

Tredegar Park councillor Trevor Watkins said he feared the damaged gate, health and clear-up costs could run to more than £1,000.

And he plans to make a formal complaint to Gwent Police after officers attending the scene failed to stop the gipsies. He says he called officers as the first caravans moved onto the playing field but was told by attending officers they had another call to deal with.

Mr Watkins said: "I'm absolutely disgusted. The police said they had another call and did nothing. They could have stopped other caravans entering the site.

Councillor Bob Poole, cabinet member for young people's services, confirmed no PE lessons took place yesterday.

"I'm annoyed this has seriously disrupted the school. The site will have to be inspected to see what mess there is before the kids are allowed to use the field again.

"Obviously there will be a cost attached to cleaning up whatever mess there is," he added.

A Gwent Police spokeswoman said yesterday was the first opportunity for police and council to jointly serve the gipsies with a notice to leave the site, as required by law.

The gipsies were ordered to leave the site by 8pm last night.