A clean-up operation is underway after travellers were moved on from a children’s play area in a picturesque village.

A week ago half a dozen caravans pitched up next to a main road in Hartley, near Dartford, between Ash Road and Hoselands View.

They were then moved on from the area but set up camp in a children’s play area just 200 yards away and legal notices were served for their pitch to bre removed.

Sevenoaks Council workers could be seen at the park this morning picking up discarded rubbish.

Muddy tyre tracks were also left behind from where vehicles accessed the site.

One resident, who lives nearby said: “The travellers all moved on at 5pm last night.

“Apparently, according to Facebook, it’s a complete mess over there!

“Human waste has been thrown into bushes and there is dog poo all over the playground area.

“It’s a no-go area until the council does a clean up I guess.”

Seven caravans were first seen parked on the village green last Friday.

On Tuesday, after the travellers were moved on from the area, they set up camp in a children’s play area just 200 yards away.

On Thursday the unauthorised encampment was set to be moved on after blighting the village for nearly a week.

The group's departure comes as a new settlement was seen in Medway today.

Several caravans were seen at Riverside Country Park in Gillingham this morning.

Last year new legislation was brought in to tackle illegal pitches on other people’s land or in local communities.

Under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, police in England and Wales were given new powers to address harms caused by such unauthorised encampments and new guidance was published.

It comes amid a national shortage of gypsy and traveller sites with no plots currently available in Kent.

Sevenoaks Council have been approached for comment.