A vigilante has been daubing the words "move it" on vans and lorries seemingly abandoned on Sheppey's streets.

Residents have long been calling on the authorities to get tough on the owners of the vehicles, which they say are an eyesore, clogging up public roads and in car parks.

Some are said to have been in the same place for months without being moved.

One fed-up resident appears to have taken the law into their own hands and started spray-painting any they find.

The vehicles have been sighted on the shingle bank at Minster, in the Ship on Shore car park and the back streets of Sheerness, Halfway Road outside Sheerness Holiday Park and Queenborough.

Despite their dilapidated conditions, they appear to have valid road tax according to the DVLA database.

Cameron Beart, Conservative member for Queenborough and Halfway on Swale council, has been trying to get them taken away. He said: "These eyesore vehicles have blighted the streets of our Island for years now.

"They have caused untold environmental damage and made a huge negative impact on residents' lives. It is simply unacceptable."

He added: "The environmental enforcement team at Swale council has worked hard on this case and has issued a Community Protection Notice.

"But this hasn't been complied with. It is now time for the various authorities to put their heads together and resolve this issue."

Police and Kent Highways have so far been powerless to act as the vans appear to be legally parked.

Posts on social media show residents' frustrations over the lack of action. One said: "Police and the local authorities keep blaming each other and not taking responsibility."

Another complained: "If we parked in the car park by the Ship on Shore for over 18 months our cars/vans would have been scrapped and flattened."

Another added: "It's a disgrace. How much longer will it be allowed to continue?

"As a delivery driver in a lorry they make my job difficult.

"I hope I will wake up one day and find them all been towed away."

A spokesman for Swale council said: “We are aware of the vehicles parked around Sheppey and are working with our legal team to resolve the issue.”

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