A large traveller camp has sprung up on green space near the Kent coast.

More than 10 vehicles - including campervans and cars - are parked on land along Princes Parade, close to the Imperial's golf course, in Hythe.

Both police and members of Folkestone and Hythe District Council have visited the site and asked the group to leave.

The council say if they do not move on, they will take legal action.

The group have also been warned to clear up the land before they go.

A spokesman for the council said: "We are aware of this encampment and our environmental enforcement officers have visited the site with our housing officers to complete the welfare checks and advised that they do not have permission to be there and to leave with immediate effect or legal action will be taken to remove them.

"The police have attended the encampment and conducted vehicle checks and advised the unauthorised campers to clean up any waste that has been left at the site.

"We will be discussing with the police the use of their own powers to immediately remove the encampment, but we have already started our own removal process whilst waiting on a decision."

The camp has been set up along Princes Parade - which was recently given planning permission for a development consisting of 150 new homes, a hotel and a leisure centre.

Last week another illegal encampment pitched up on land in Ashford's town centre.

It is not known if it is the same group.

Hythe Town Council said it was aware of the encampment.

Thousands of people are expected to descend on Hythe tonight for the bi-annual Venetian Fete.

Read more: All the latest news from Hythe

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