A group of travellers who pitched up more than a month ago have now been moved on.

The unauthorised encampment arrived at Laburnum Road Recreation Ground in Strood on June 6.

By the gate entrance, there was reportedly an “intimidating” large dog tied up and there was rubbish and dog waste scattered across the green.

People were unable to get to the play park, which has recently been installed, without going through the unauthorised encampment of up to 20 caravans.

Locals said the trespassers were “unbearable to live with”, with one claiming they’ve had several soiled nappies dumped in their garden.

On Friday, the group were served a notice to move on and they left this morning.

Cllr Tris Osborne, Medway Council’s portfolio holder for community safety and enforcement, said: “As part of our 100-day plan, the new administration will be carrying out a full review of security measures at all of Medway’s parks and open spaces; in addition to conversations on dedicated provision; to ensure that we reduce the accessibility of our parks and open spaces to trespassers.

“We understand how important our parks are for the health and wellbeing of our residents and the annoyance of trespassing and unauthorised encampments.”

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, which came into force at the end of June last year, grants law enforcement new powers to tackle illegal pitches.

Full use includes the ability to seize vehicles and arrest people where there is evidence of "significant damage, disruption or distress".

But it has come under fire from human rights groups who claim it will "criminalise the Traveller way of life".

A shortage of suitable legitimate sites often creates the biggest single source of conflict between travellers and settled communities. There are currently no legal pitches available in Kent.