Building work on the gypsy site behind Kent Police's Coldharbour base, Aylesford

Taxpayers are footing the bill for gypsies to stay in a holiday home while their pitch is renovated.

Kent County Council is using public funds to pay for a traveller couple to have a roof over their heads after they were moved out of the Coldharbour site in Aylesford.

However the family may not actually have a home to return to when they move back.

A council spokesman failed to say how much has been spent on the family.

He said the family has been staying in “off-season holiday accommodation” in Tonbridge and Malling since late December.

The couple lived on one of the eight plots behind Kent Police’s base off the A20.

It became apparent their home was no longer habitable when KCC inspected the land as part of its £1million renovation of the site.

Work started around a year ago to increase the number of hard-standing pitches to 26 and include provisions for water and electricity, and a play area for children.

Families who occupied the other seven original spots at the camp confirmed a couple had been temporarily moved but would not disclose their names or where they were living.

Other families have been able to park elsewhere on the site until the work is complete.

The KCC spokesman said the two affected people would not be provided with a new caravan or mobile home but will be able to return to the improved development.

The work was expected to be finished in January but the deadline is now June.

At the start of the renovation, a man who lived on the land said he was against the idea of inviting more families to join the community.