Steps to remove an illegal encampment of travellers from a leisure centre are under way.

A number of caravans are in the car park of the Cygnet centre, in Old Perry Street, Northfleet.

The group arrived around 10.30am yesterday. There were 19 vans there this morning.

A spokesman for Gravesham council said: "We are aware of an illegal encampment at Cygnet and are taking the necessary steps to remove them from the site."

The youth centre on the site is currently being used as a coronavirus testing centre.

A spokesman for Kent Police said: "Kent Police was called at 10.34am on March 14 to a report of a traveller incursion at Cygnet Leisure Centre in Old Perry Street in Gravesend.

"Officers have attended the location and the matter is being dealt with by the local landowner as is the normal process for these matters."

Update: The group had moved on by March 16.

Read more: All the latest news from Gravesend