Debris from a torched caravan has littered a public field after travellers left the area.

Smashed glass, human waste and litter has covered the green and a football court next to Shepway Youth Community Centre.

Youth clubs and activities have been cancelled throughout this week after up to 20 caravans moved onto the green last Friday.

Paula Primett is manager at Nellie's Pre School, based at the community centre.

She said: "It's been sheer chaos.

"They were using the fences as washing lines, the top half of our outside area was covered in rubbish, they used the court as a toilet.

"Kids were coming through, they broke three of my fences by just pushing them and jumping over the gate at the bottom.

"We couldn't go outside so we had to use the sports hall, we've had roughly five in every day this week because a lot of parents don't want to send their children.

"At the start there was about 20 caravans then it evened out, yesterday there was eight and then they left.

"It has a knock-on effect on everybody, especially when you're working here day to day, parents don't want their children in here because they're worried about parking and bringing their children out to the play school."

Maidstone Borough Council served a notice on Tuesday, four days after caravans arrived, ordering the encampment to move on by Wednesday.

All caravans, except the one which caught alight, left the site yesterday.

Kent Police has confirmed it is aware of the blaze, which started at around 8.45pm yesterday.

Kent Phoenix American Football Club, which trains on Shepway Green, had to cancel its Sunday session after the encampment's arrival.

James Hunter, 73, from Suffolk Road, said: "It is frustrating. I phoned the police when they arrived and I was advised that they were aware.

"It is a sports field and there is a burnt out caravan where children play.

"Not all travellers are the same. Some feel they can do what they like when they like."

Maidstone Borough Council confirmed it was starting to clean up the site and hoped to have the caravan's charred remains removed in the next 24 hours.