Travellers who have pitched up on a field used for car boot sales have been given a deadline to move on.

There are around 20 caravans on the site near Upnor after they "broke in" on Tuesday night.

Car boot businessman Mark Greenfield rents the field and confirmed this morning he has given the group until noon tomorrow to move on.

He was joined by officers and told if the caravans have not left by the deadline a section 61 order will be put in place.

This gives police the power to tell an encampment to leave once certain conditions are met.

Mark said: "The travellers knew the section 61 and tried arguing with the police saying 'you cannot do this you cannot do that'.

"The police told them they would remove their caravans if they are not gone. They did not like it but it is what it is.

"Now we are waiting until noon tomorrow to see if they are gone and if not the police will enforce the law."

Mark claims the caravans were pitched up on Darnley Road before moving to the land off Anthony's Way on Tuesday. Four originally arrived in the night but there are now around 20.

He and his wife went down to the site at around 8pm and 9pm after being alerted to their arrival by neighbours.

"My wife tried to shut the gate and they were trying to come in," he added. "One of them bashed the gate and knocked her to the floor. She is fine now."

Mark runs a car boot fair every Sunday on the land which he said will not be able to go ahead if the caravans are not moved on.

He said: "It is not just about me. We have a lot of stalls there and during these troubling times people really need it.

"I have six boys who work for me. It is my revenue and it is there wages we will miss out on.

"We have had the trouble with Covid, we have only just got back on our feet. It is a chunk of revenue for me and it is a massive disappointment for the people who turn up for the popular boot fair.

"It is shocking that a small group can interfere with it so much."

It is hoped the car boot fair will go ahead on Sunday as the travellers are expected to have vacated the site by tomorrow afternoon.