Less than two months after seeing travellers leave an illegal encampment, residents woke to find more than 100 caravans back in their village.

A three-year legal battle had finally secured the eviction of eight families in White Post Lane, Sole Street at the end of June.

But around 100 caravans rolled up on a nearby field in Round Street, prompting fears of another invasion by transient families.

But the caravans, said to be part of a Christian festival, were only on site, for seven days until they left on Saturday.

The event was run by Light and Life Gypsy church, which is based in Hill Rise, Darenth but only half of those who attended were believed to be faith followers, according to pastor Joe Boswell.

The religious ceremony prompted a number of complaints to Kent Police.

Mr Boswell, 34, from Horton Kirby, has been training as a pastor at Light and Life in Darenth for the last three years.

He said: “Each church is responsible for having their own event, and we aim to leave a testimony behind here.”

More in this week's Gravesend Messenger, out Thursday.