Travellers who took over took over the Neptune car park in Herne Bay have moved.

Caravans and motorhomes started arriving at about 8pm last night, echoing scenes from last year’s Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

On that occasion, travellers in about 50 caravans refused to leave for four days, blocking off the car park to people looking to make the most of the hot weather.

But, following discussions between the travellers and council enforcement officers, the group has moved to Swalecliffe Avenue car park.

A council spokesman said: "This is a far more suitable location, which is designed for caravans and motorhomes, and has space available. The group has indicated it will stay there until Sunday and our enforcement officers will monitor the situation closely.

"Alongside this, we are preparing to take the necessary legal steps required to secure their removal from Swalecliffe Avenue on Monday, should they not leave of their own volition over the weekend."

The council was also keen to emphasise that the group had paid for parking tickets, there had not been any vandalism to the parking metres and there were no cleaning issues.

There were fears that this could have prevented a dinghy festival held by the Herne Bay Angling Association from being held, as access to the boat ramp was likely to be compromised.

But the move has meant the event will go ahead.

Speaking earlier today, town centre councillor Andrew Cook hoped for a quick resolution but thought the travellers would be forced to leave on Monday.

"Certainly they'll be moved on but we're on a Friday so therefore we'll have to get court orders and all sorts of things," he said.

"These guys know how to choose their timing, but hopefully we've been on the case very sharpish and maybe we can get something rushed through today.

"We'll have to wait and see how that side of it works out.

"It could be Monday if we're unlucky. If you can't crack it by the Friday usually it's difficult to do it beforehand.

"If there's an angling competition going on it could be a little bit confusing with all the vans and caravans in there and the extra vehicles. For every caravan you seem to have two cars or two vans to go with it, so it's causing restritcions in that area.

"I'm fairly confident the council has put in different restrictions and things so there might be something else they can utilise and use as a legal means of asking them to move on."

Last year not a single penalty notice was dished out to travellers during the Easter takeover, while 24 were issued elsewhere in the town during their stay.

Asked whether they will face fines this weekend, Cllr Cook said: "That's out of my control, but I guess they don't get fined if they shove off quickly, otherwise if we have to enforce further action that's when the fines start to come in."

He added that the introduction of ANPR barriers in the car park - likely this November - will act as an extra defence against similar incidents in the future.