A group of travellers pitched up outside a youth jail for Christmas.

A number of caravans and vans moved onto land next to Cookham Wood young offenders’ institution in Sir Evelyn Road, Rochester, on Friday, December 23.

In August a group of around 20 caravans and vans pitched up on the site for more than a week before they moved on.

The Mayor of Medway and ward councillor Stuart Tranter emailed residents to let them know he had spoken to the prison service.

He wrote: “The prison authority will move them on as quickly as they can using legal procedures - something not helped by Christmas as you would expect. Indeed, this is probably why they moved in now.

“I have also notified council officers. Advice remains the same. Do not engage with the travellers since it generally does not help.”

The travellers moved from the site on Boxing Day but left five horses and piles of rubbish behind.

Cllr Tranter said: “They left large amounts of rubbish behind - enough for a couple of skips I would guess.

“No doubt they will be back soon to collect the ponies or will go back to the site.”

Cllr Tranter added that he had already arranged a meeting with senior council officers in January to discuss what the council can do when travellers move on to a site and if there is more officers can do within current laws.

He added: “Our existing laws are inadequate. It would be very difficult for the prison service, or anyone else for that matter, to prevent incursions other than putting in place physical barriers but that is for them to decide.”

At around 3.30pm on Boxing Day a group of travellers moved into Peter’s Pit in Wouldham. It is thought they moved a concrete block to get onto the site, where a new village is due to be built in the new year.