Tomorrow sees the official opening of civic tennis courts and bowling greens across the city.

But the two courts in the park are covered with plastic tubes, lumps and bumps as a result of the excavation work and are certainly not ready to open.

Planning permission for Vodafone’s 15-metre phone mast was rejected by Dundee City Council, but the Scottish Executive overturned the decision in February 2006 and the work finally began in January this year.

It was carried out by English-based company Stappard Howes, whose signs are still on the tennis court fences, next to other notices warning people to keep away.

The siting of the mast, just a metre or so from the tennis courts, previously came in for criticism from locals, worried about safety issues, particularly for children playing tennis.

One irate local said, “This is ridiculous. These tennis courts are well used and people won’t be able to get on them at all because of a mobile phone mast we did not want.

“It was supposed to look like a tree, but looks like a giant plastic bottlebrush. Why did the contractors not clear up after the installation?

“A lot of us are hopping mad about this and sorry for our children who want to get on the courts.”

A Dundee City Council spokesman said, “We will be contacting Vodafone to request they get their contractor to reinstate the area to an acceptable standard.”

Dr Rob Matthews said on behalf of Vodafone, “The contractors haven’t finished the build yet, which is why building materials may still be around.

“Once it is finished, the site will be reinstated to its former condition.”