CARAVANS and lived in vans parked up on Hove seafront for 24 hours.

About ten campervans arrived in Kings Road, Hove, at around 6pm on Tuesday.

The group moved tonight just as Brighton and Hove City Council was preparing to seek a court order forcing them to move by Friday.

The occupants of the vans, who told The Argus they were not travellers but “local people” from London, said they were on holiday but one of the group had broken down.

They said they had intended to move on by midday – but were still on the A259 late into this afternoon.

One of the men, who refused to be named, said: “We’re just relaxing and enjoying the seaside.

“We were just going on holiday we are not staying here.

“I think we were heading to Clacton when we ended up here.

“We’ll move on and probably just go a couple of miles down the road and park up.”

Another member of the group said they only decided to stay overnight on the seafront because one of the vans had broken down.

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokeswoman said: “The council has carried out a joint visit with the police and parking enforcement officers to a group of ten lived-in vehicles parked on the highway opposite Brunswick Terrace in Hove, adjacent to Hove Lawns.

“We have issued penalty charge notices to illegally parked vehicles and are continuing to work closely with the police to monitor the situation.

“We have also served a notice to leave the area under Section 77 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act and a court hearing will take place this coming Friday should the travellers fail to leave before then.”

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “Approximately ten motor homes moved onto the seafront highway at Hove on Tuesday. It is understood parking tickets have been purchased.

“Police have no powers under Section 61 in this situation.

“Brighton & Hove City Council is believed to have served Section 77 notices requiring the motorhomes to move on, so the onus is with the council at this stage.

“Sussex Police continue to monitor the situation.”