Travellers have set up camp in a leisure center's car park.

Car parking bays have been taken up by six caravans outside Cascades Leisure Centre, in Thong Lane, Gravesend.

The travellers, who arrived on the site at 5pm yesterday was served with a Direction Notice by Gravesham Borough requiring them to leave by 10am tomorrow.

Assistant director at Gravesham Council, Sarah Kilkie, said: “A visit was made by council officers on the morning of Tuesday, January 9.

“An assessment was made and the occupiers of the caravans were advised that they must leave.

“This has now been followed up by the service of a formal Direction Notice requiring them to leave and remove their caravans and other property by 10am tomorrow.

“If they do not comply, then the council will immediately apply to Chatham Magistrates Court for a summons for a hearing.

“At the hearing we would request a Court Order requiring the travellers to leave and authorising the council to take any reasonably necessary steps to ensure compliance.

“We, and our Kent Police colleagues, continue to monitor the situation closely.”