Travellers have set up camp at a park in the grounds of a stately home.

A group of caravans and other vehicles have descended on Northdown Park, within the grounds of Northdown House, in Margate.

In the district’s latest incursion, people were seen pitching up next to the Georgian home and gardens on Thurday last week.

With its children’s play area and walled garden, the park, situated to the east of the town centre, is a popular family spot in the summer months.

It comes as KentOnline examined the action being taken to clampdown on unauthorised traveller encampments in the county.

The law on trespass on private land is clear.

If travellers are camped without the landowner’s permission it is their responsibility to prevent it and evict them.

This can be done by asking them to leave and by starting court proceedings.

However, when it comes to council-owned land local authorities must make and carry out appropriate decisions over whether to move caravan-dwellers on and allocate resources accordingly.

Thanet District Council, the authority responsible for liasing with travellers, said it does not respond to media enquiries on a Monday.