POLICE have moved in to evict a group of travellers who terrorised families in a two-week "nightmare" of crime and harassment.

The eviction has led to a fierce political row, with accusations that Medway Council acted too slowly to evict the travellers.

Residents in the Pier Approach Road area of Gillingham had called for action after what they described as a mini-crime wave. They said they had been subjected to verbal abuse, harassment, travellers urinating in their gardens and had bottles thrown at their homes.

Medway Liberal Democrat councillor Pat Cooper says she is "disgusted" it took the council 10 days to refer an application for an eviction order to a court.

Normally, police act in conjunction with councils and bailiffs in evictions, but police moved in on Monday before the legal eviction process had been completed because of the level of crime in the area.

Martin Pearce, from Kent Police, said they worked alongside the landowners to ensure the safety of both the public and the travellers.

A spokesman for Medway Council said: " We had applied for an eviction order and that could have taken effect from today. But the police decided to move in earlier. We were aware of it and we had one officer on site but not the bailiffs."

Cllr Cooper says she is furious residents had to endure such a long delay and is now campaigning to have the area added to the council's list of 10 sites from which travellers are banned.