POLICE knew a group of travellers had set up home in an abandoned Johnstone hospital on the day of their arrival, The Gazette can reveal.

The force were called to attend the derelict NHS site almost as soon as they arrived, over fears they had damaged security measure which prevented access to the general public.

But, after hearing the travellers in question planned to stay within the grounds of the old Merchiston Hospital for a few days, officers left the area without making any arrests.

We told two weeks ago how gas experts had to search the site - which is now home to a 200-yard trail of destruction following their departure - on Monday, February 25, over fears of an explosion.

Landowners of the former hospital - the Argyll and Clyde Health Board - faced a huge clean-up operation to remove the dozens of broken windows, household rubbish, garden refuge, flammable liquids, soiled bedding and hundreds of shoes which are now adorn the site's streets and pavements.

Following an investigation, we can now reveal that police were informed of the travellers presence on the site almost as soon as they arrived on February 11.

A Strathclyde Police spokeswoman said: "Officers attended the old Merchiston Hospital on February 11 after we received a call from a member of the public.

"Members of the travelling community were on the site and said they were going to be there for a couple of days.

"No arrests were made as no criminality had been established." Bollards block the road from the Merchiston Drive side of the site, but the Barrochan Drive entrance was clear for traffic to gain entry.

There were originally bollards in place preventing anybody entering via Barrochan Drive, but it's understood they were vandalised and torn down prior to their arrival.

The state of the site, which lies in the shadows of the town's affluent Brookfield area, was slammed by local councillor Audrey Doig.

The SNP woman blasted the travellers, claiming they turned the hospital into "a dumping ground." And she said that their behaviour and their treatment of their surroundings showed they were not "true members of the travelling community." She described the transformation of the site - which she passes on an almost daily basis - as "very upsetting." She told The Gazette: "True travellers don't leave that kind of devastation behind.

"These are just fly-by-nights who are out to make a quick buck.

"They moved in and reduced the site to a dumping ground in a few days.

"They have no conscience, they are all about the fast buck - they don't give any thought to what they leave behind.

"They are not true travelling people who care about the environment." The councillor said she respected people can choose to live where they wish, but stressed that everyone is subject to the law.

She said: "They were causing all sorts of damage and criminality.

"I respect people having a choice about where and how they want to live, as long as they respect the laws that we all live by." And she warned that innocent Renfrewshire residents would end up counting the cost of the travellers actions.

She said: "It will be the local people who end up paying for it through increases in taxes and council taxes."