GRASS at Battery Park in Greenock has been left churned up by heavy lorries following Saturday’s firework display and carnival.

A local resident says he has never seen the park in such a mess.

Andy McKnight, who lives opposite the park in Lyle Road, said he was shocked when he saw the condition it is in.

He said: “Trucks were parked on the grass and drove across it.

“There are big muddy ruts and the grass is in a mess.”

The 70-year-old retired North Sea oil rig technician said it was particularly disappointing at a time when the public are being asked to vote for the Battery in a nationwide favourite park competition.

He said: “I saw the story in the Tele last week about the competition, but how could you vote for the Battery with the state it’s been left in by these trucks?

“Big events have been held in the park before, such as the Gourock Highland Games, but nothing like this has ever happened.

“I think it is ridiculous.

“The guys who maintain the park work tirelessly to keep it in good condition.

“It was beautiful before, but now look at the state of it.”

A spokeswoman for Inverclyde Council said they were ‘not overly concerned’ about the grass.

She said: “There is nothing irreparable.

“It is no more than expected given the condition of the ground after a lot of damp weather.”