Staff were forced to close Splashes leisure pool following threats from travellers.

The pool in Rainham was closed just after 10am when two men tried to get into the leisure centre.

Kent Police say they were called to the pool in Bloors Lane, Rainham, at 9.52am following a report of an altercation. Officers attended and gave words of advice to two men, but no offences were reported.

A staff member confirmed the incident but was waiting for senior managers to arrive at the centre before releasing further details.

"They have been threatening staff," he said. "We're still not sure what we're going to do. They've been quite aggressive."

The pool was reopened at 1pm this afternoon.

Bob Dimond, Medway Council’s Head of Sport Leisure, Tourism and Heritage, said: “We temporarily closed Splashes Sports Centre in Rainham on Saturday, 14 July, for the safety of visitors and staff due to aggressive behaviour from travellers camped on Cozenton Park. Splashes reopened at 1pm and, as a precaution, we have arranged for extra security officers on site to ensure that visitors feel safe. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

The travellers moved on to Cozenton Park on Friday July 13 and a civil legal process is under way to move them on.

Rainham North ward Councillor Martin Potter also attended the scene and said he and Cllr David Carr had been working with Splashes and Council staff.

They understood a group consisting of nine caravans and one campervan drove onto the park when park maintenance crews briefly opened the gates to bring equipment in, and that Splashes staff has then shut the gates to prevent additional caravans getting access.

Fire crews were also called to the scene after what was believed to be a false report of a fire, added Cllr Potter.

"I intercepted the fire crew (who had come over from Strood) and explained there was no fire." he added. "The access to the park (shut to prevent further incursions) would have needed to have been opened should there have been a fire. The fire crew provided me with the details of the false call (including the phone number) and I provided Kent Police with this information and they are now investigating."

"Unfortunately, all too often we see these traveller incidents across the country because the law is not robust in preventing and tackling illegal incursions. Here in Medway the Council is hardening sites to prevent access and we now have a far more effective protocol to remove illegal incursions as quickly as the legal process allows. However, what we need is effective national legislation, and that's why Cllr David Carr and I have lobbied our local MP on this. I understand the government is now reviewing this and I sincerely hope they act."