Battersea Park "descended into chaos" as contractors began works ahead of this summer’s Formula E finale.

Wandsworth Times:

You shall not pass: Workers get things ready for the finale

The Grade II listed park hosts the final stage of the stage of the electric racing series on June 27 and 28 and major alterations have now begun to widen carriageways and create pit stop areas.

The works were approved by Wandsworth Council but people feared for the safety of adults and children who used the park, claiming it has become "virtually a building site".

Lois Davis, from Wandsworth Green Party, said: "I was down there on my bike this morning [Monday, June 15] and it was a health and safety nightmare - parents and kids crossing in front of forklift trucks laden with slabs of concrete and walking right past ‘danger no-entry’ signs to get to the sports hall, cyclists weaving between huge trucks, tractors and cranes with no idea where to go.

"This council is breaking every rule in the book to run this event - they don’t care what residents think and clearly they don’t care about their safety either. This is no way to treat a tranquil park and the people who use it daily."

As part of the works, walls and terraced stands are being brought in and the event is expected to draw in 30,000 visitors on each day of the weekend of racing.

People also feared the park would be closed to the public during the event and in the days following the series, with only a small green area for dog walkers by the Chelsea Gate.

A Wandsworth Council spokesman said the event would put Battersea Park at the heart of a global sport, promote London tourism and hoped the majority of people would welcome Formula E to the park.

He added: "Of course we recognise that not everyone is a motor racing fan so two sections of the park will remain open throughout for those who want to jog, stroll, exercise their dogs or just enjoy this popular green space over those two days.

"Before granting permission we consulted extensively with local residents, amenity groups, the Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage.

"The whole process was conducted openly and transparently from start to finish."

The spokesman said a £1m funding pot has also been created by the event organisers to make improvements to the park and help protect it.