The leader of Richmond Council, Cllr. Gareth Roberts today told how he managed to 'escape' from the Woodland Gardens in Bushy Park, after the gates were locked.

He said: "I'm lucky. I was able to clamber over a fence and up onto a wall. We helped the lone older female we met to do likewise.

"But what if we'd been with somebody in a wheelchair, with anxiety disorder, somebody physically incapable of climbing.

"Sheer negligence by the Royal Parks."

Most of the Bushy Park gates have been closed overnight because of anti-social behaviour near Hampton Hill cricket pitch.