Travellers' caravans are starting to appear at a popular outdoor beauty spot in Herne Bay.

They began to arrive in Hampton Pier Avenue at lunchtime on Thursday when men were seen unloading an electricity generator and washing machine.

The land they are occupying is next to a coastal open area which contains a children's playpark and is popular with walkers.

More caravans and vehicles are understood to be arriving.

A young woman inside one of the caravans confirmed that the group is the same one which occupied the Neptune car park on the seafront in central Herne Bay over the Easter weekend.

Speaking with a thick Irish accent, she insisted they would be "staying for a day or two".

Canterbury City Council attracted criticism after it failed to remove the travellers from the Neptune car park or give them parking penalties after they failed to buy tickets.

Council spokesman Rob Davies said: "We are aware of this issue and our enforcement officers are on site dealing with it.

"This group of travellers was recently on Hampton Pier car park and we served notice on them requiring them to leave, which they did.

"They have now moved slightly down the road to Hampton recreation ground and we are looking into options for moving them on."