Rugby players got a shock when they discovered their club’s car park had been turned into a camping ground for caravans and camper vans.

Four vehicles, none of them British-registered, appeared at Ashford Rugby Football Club’s Kennington home last Thursday lunchtime and were still there in the evening, forcing club chairman John Norman to find another venue for scheduled training sessions.

Luckily, the visitors, who Mr Norman believes were French and Belgian, were persuaded to move on before the first team’s Saturday afternoon match against Old Colfeians, but they are still in Ashford today.

Mr Norman said: “They moved on nicely after we asked them to. They didn’t leave any mess or litter. It was a bit of a pain, but not too much of a problem at the end of the day. The police and the council were both brilliant.”

A fence surrounding the Kinney’s Lane ground was damaged and Mr Norman said the club is considering putting something more solid up to stop vehicles entering the site without permission, although he added such restrictions might cause problems for delivery drivers and other large vehicles.

On Monday morning, caravans and camper vans, possibly the same ones, were spotted on a grass verge near Leacon Road and Victoria Road.

Ashford Borough Council spokesman Mark James said: “We worked with our partners at Kent Police to resolve the issue at the rugby club quickly and calmly and are pleased the club was happy with the way our partnership working was able to conclude the matter.

“We are trying to co-ordinate our own actions and those of our partners to effect a quicker response.

“It should also be noted that the rugby club was very proactive and open to our suggestions, which also helped.”

When it emerged the travellers were still in town, Mr James added: “We have become aware of this development.

“We are currently looking into whose land they are on and will then, again, try to co-ordinate a response to this, which will involve finding out what the intentions of the travellers are.”

Police spokesman Jon Green said: “Kent Police and ABC advised the club on various options.

“In the end the travellers were asked to leave prior to an important end of season event taking place at the club and they did so.

“No arrests were necessary, so it was all resolved successfully.”

Mr Green said it was no longer a police matter now the vehicles had moved although officers were "aware and monitoring the situation".

Thursday night’s rugby training was moved to Ashford School and Ashford ended up losing their weekend match 50-10.