THERE were tense scenes when 50 travellers descended on land next to the new multimillion pound Rolex European headquarters on one of Kent's most prestigious developments.

Police were called after security staff brought in by developer Liberty clashed with the illegal visitors at Kings Hill last week.

A spokesman for security firm Precreate Solutions said: "Travellers were first spotted on the site on Friday, August 6.

"There were around 25 caravans but nine left after we told them a court order for eviction would be processed immediately.

"However, other travellers with around 20 more caravans turned up on the Tuesday afternoon at around 5pm and tried to forcibly gain access to the area."

The security firm was forced to bring in mobile patrols and dog units round the clock, and built a roadblock at the entrance to the travellers' camp in Jubilee Way.

"When they were turned away by security staff they made violent threats and caused criminal damage to the barriers we had constructed to prevent more caravans getting on to the site," added the spokesman.

On Thursday there were about 17 caravans on the site and about 50 travellers, but following a court order for eviction, the site was empty by Friday morning.

Tonbridge and Malling neighbourhood Inspector Adrian Allen said: "We liaised with the owners following the arrival of the caravans and neighbourhood officers monitored the site on a regular basis. The land is not in a residential area.

"There was movement of vehicles to and from the site and at its busiest there were approximately 30 vehicles, cars and caravans together.

"On Tuesday, August 10 there was a disturbance involving the landowner's security staff and people who were trying to get access to the site."

Police served notice on those remaining on the site on Wednesday and by 9am on Friday the travellers had moved on.

Rolex, due to open its state-of-the-art building on Kings Hill soon, refused to comment on the invasion, saying only the site was not their land.

However, one member of staff who spoke to the Chronicle said the travellers had left the site very litter-strewn.