POLICE are boosting patrols around one of the county's beauty spots to stop the woodland being used for kinky sex.

North Kent Police said they were aware of cases of what they describe as inappropriate behaviour by some people in Ashenbank Woods in Gravesham.

In recent months the ancient Cobham woodland, which is accessed through a car park on Halfpence Lane, has become a haunt for those taking part in 'dogging', which involves sex, often with strangers, in semi-secluded locations.

The locations of dogging spots are now frequently advertised, with whole internet sites dedicated to the best places to go.

Message boards set up on the sites also enable people to leave invites for others to meet them there.

In Cobham the woodland’s car park has found itself on a dogging website, listing the best places to take part in exhibitionist sex.

Also listed is a public toilets and picnic area also in Cobham woodland, understood to be at Shorne Country Park. Kent County Council said it was aware of the issues but declined to comment at this time.

But North Kent Police said officers were aware of the behaviour and were trying to find solutions to the problem.

PC Alison Duffort said: "I am aware of occasional inappropriate behaviour in Ashenbank Woods.

"I have been working for a number of months with the Woodland Trust, who manage the woods to find various solutions to this problem, which include the use of increased patrols throughout the area and visits by NHS Health Outreach workers."

Health outreach workers are paying visits to the area to encourage people to practise safe sex and educate them in the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

Managers of the woodland, the Woodland Trust, said it too was well aware.

A spokesman said: "We are working closely with the police and local council to try to make sure that all members of the public feel that they can use the wood safely and not feel threatened by any one particular sector who are abusing the site.

"Ashenbank is a lovely wood and we want the public to feel comfortable to enjoy it in a non-antisocial manner."