Travellers have been given until tomorrow afternoon to move off land near a a field with donkeys and ponies on it.

Three caravans arrived on land off Castle Way, near Leybourne's donkey field, yesterday afternoon.

Earlier today Kent County Council, which owns the land, visited the encampment to carry out welfare checks.

The land is owned by Kent County Council.

A spokesman from KCC's Gypsy and Traveller Service said: "Officers from KCC’s Gypsy and Traveller Service visited the site and, having discovered no welfare issues, began the legal proceedings required to enforce removal of the caravans.

"Under a Section 77 notice (of The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994) the travellers were given until 4pm tomorrow to vacate the site."

A police spokesman confirmed officers were informed of an "unauthorised encampment" in a field on Castle Way at around 9am.

He said: "Officers are speaking with the land owner regarding the matter, which is the standard procedure in terms of any eviction process."