Investigation work is to begin on the site at St Helena Crescent after alarm bells were raised by environmental health officers, with suggestions the area may previously have housed a refuse heap.

Exploratory work, including taking soil samples from various depths, is due to get under way on Monday (December 22) in an attempt to identify the composition of underlying soils which are currently capped within a grass layer.

The park will remain open until early next month when, due to the equipment required for deeper excavations, access will be restricted for up to three days.

Councillor Kath Ryall, convener of corporate services at West Dunbartonshire Council, said: “We want to make people aware of the work we are doing, which I must stress at this stage is purely investigatory. There is no immediate risk to users of the site or surrounding residents.

“We have lettered residents in St Helena Crescent to inform them of the works and have also erected posters at the park. The results of the tests will be reported in due course and we will keep the public fully updated.” Anyone looking for more information should contact Environmental Health on: 01389 738290