Travellers have pitched up an unauthorised encampment in a park popular with families and sports-players in the sunny season.

Seven caravans and a significant number of other vehicles moved on Radnor Park in the centre of Folkestone last night.

Children could be seen playing near the parked cars while a number of gas cannisters had been set up to help power the camp.

Parked at the top corner of the field nearest to Cheriton Road, the area appeared clean and damage to the turf was minimal at about 8.30am.

Landowners Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) last year stumped up hundreds of thousands of pounds to revamp the vast open space.

Play equipment was built and an historic fountain was restored to its former glory.

The authority has been contacted for comment.

Typically the council will visit the site the next day to look at travellers' general health and childrens' education.

Following the visit the council will serve a Section 77 notice, requiring them to vacate the site within 48 hours.

If they remain, a council can apply to magistrates for a Section 78 order giving the authority legal powers to remove them.

It is not the first time an unauthorised encampment has sprung up on the playing field.

Encampments were evicted once in 2016 and twice in 2017.

An FHDC spokesman this afternoon confirmed the group moved on after being threatened with legal action.

They said: "Supported by Kent Police, we advised the travellers this morning that an existing bylaw prevented caravans being parked at Radnor Park.

"They have now moved to the Stadium, Church Road, Cheriton and we will be taking legal action to remove them from there."