A group of homeless people have been evicted from the woodland where they had set up camp this morning.

Bailiffs and workmen arrived at the site behind trees off Marlborough Road and Brompton Road in Gillingham at 10am.

There were thought to be about five people still living inside the camp but they had left the campsite before the bailiffs moved in.

Scroll down for video

The site was made secure and anyone found within the area from now on could face charges of breaking and entering.

Medway Council, which owns the land, took legal action to evict the occupants and Medway County Court issued a warrant for their eviction on Wednesday last week.

Two bailiffs, a couple of workmen and a building surveyor for Medway Council were in attendance. The building surveyor handed out pieces of paper to those present with information about the various charities and services where they can get help. A housing officer did not attend.

The council and a number of other agencies who work with homeless people have previously visited the site to provided advice.

Several members of the Facebook group Medway Help for Homeless and volunteers who have been helping the homeless were at the eviction to offer support and assistance.

Gaby Smith said: "We have tried to work with the council, AMAT, Pathways, Turning Point etc. but we seem to hit a lot of brick walls.

"If a homeless person goes to the council, the first thing they got told is that they are not vulnerable enough, I have taken several to the council. Either they ask for so much documentation, which someone living on the streets just doesn't have or when they do take in all their documents they just get told, sorry we can not help you, you are not vulnerable enough."

Watch: Bailiffs and workmen arrive at the homeless camp

She said the council are also now asking people to prove they are homeless.

"How do you prove you are homeless?" she said. "People who had family fallouts or relationship or marriage breakups can not prove on paper that they are homeless. The only ones who can prove this are the ones who have been evicted from their last place, but then they get told they made themselves intentionally homeless.

"The council are building one brick wall after another. AMAT have been better, they have managed to house some, but they are like Pathways full."

If a person goes to the council for assistance they need various documents to confirm they are homeless. This can include letters or correspondence about how or why their last accommodation came to end. Where the council does not have a legal duty to provide accommodation, it works with a range of organisations and provides advice and assistance to help people to secure there own accommodation.

The camp in Marlborough Road Annex was set up in August as a safe place for four homeless men who were sleeping in shop doorways.

But with around 250 people sleeping rough in the Towns, numbers at the camp quickly grew and at one point there were thought to be around 16 people using the site. Many moved on after Medway Council officials lodged an application with the court to evict the group last month.

Campaign group, Medway Justice for Homeless People, has called on Medway Council to open up emergency shelters for homeless people.

Spokesman Guy Jordan said: “It’s criminal that up to 200 people may be sleeping in the open this Christmas only yards from places that could be a safe haven with the minimum expense.

“The council have told us of a ‘blue light’ service that is supposed to target support for the most vulnerable on our streets but that clearly isn’t working.

"What’s more, they are relying on volunteers, charities and outsourced agencies to do the work they should be doing themselves.”

The camp is next to the entrance to the Great Lines Heritage Park and a person who works nearby said although they were aware of the camp and had seen the smoke from their fires the group had not caused any problems.