The 26 showmen and women, who say they have nowhere else to go, have lived on land in Platt since 2000, but must now leave by 25 March or be jailed.

They were also told to pay Tonbridge and Malling council's �12,000 costs, and to restore greenbelt land at Crouch Lane to its original condition by May.

Mrs Justice Dobbs heard the group had not tried to seek planning consent.

Punish and deter

She said equipment, caravans, vehicles and fencing had to be moved by the deadline if all 26 people were to avoid 10-week prison sentences.

Other items on the land include refreshment vans and rides including a ghost train and a crooked cottage.

The court heard that the principal defendant, Lyn Davis, bought the land in January 2000 and the showmen moved on to the site in November 2000.

Excavation work was carried out to create a track on the land, which was divided into plots, some of which were sold to other defendants.

The court heard the group had failed to obey earlier court orders to move off the land.

At Monday's hearing the judge said the possibility of prison was "to mark the gravity" of continuing breaches and that a "punish and deter" sentence was needed.

After the hearing, the council said the authority had received a planning application on Monday.