Travellers who set up camp on a town's playing fields have been served notice to leave.

More than 17 caravans pitched up on the South Road recreation ground in Hythe, close to the Twiss Road allotments, on Sunday evening.

The land is owned by Hythe Town Council and yesterday its representatives went to the site to demand the unauthorised occupants vacate the field just south of the Royal Military Canal.

Town council officers also conducted a welfare assessment alongside Folkestone and Hythe District Council officers.

A spokesman for the district council said: "The situation is being monitored by the two authorities.

"Any concerns about anti-social behaviour, or witnesses of this, should be reported to Kent Police."

Kent Police declined to comment on the situation at this stage, as any initial action against unauthorised encampments should be taken by the landowner.