AN ILLEGAL caravan encampment has been set up at an Inverclyde beauty spot - sparking immediate action by council officers.

A total of three caravans, a motorhome and a number of other vehicles were spotted occupying a large area at Lunderston Bay.

Multiple parking bays were taken up overnight, preventing other people visiting the site from using the spaces.

A councillor, whose ward includes Lunderston Bay, said that it was important for the local authority to take swift action to ensure that the area - which has received significant investment in recent years - was accessible for all.

Elected member James Daisley told the Telegraph: “The council needs to check out camps like this and investigate, if they’re unauthorised or are there for any length of time that they shouldn’t be, then they need to be moved on.

“It will stop other people from enjoying Lunderston Bay.

“Investment has been put into Lunderston Bay with the playpark there and money has gone in over the last few years in terms of upgrading the car park.

“It’s one of these things that needs to be shouted about and used to attract people to come to Inverclyde and you can’t do that if the car park is being used like this.

“It’s not designed for that and if they’re there for periods of time when they shouldn’t be then we have to respectfully request that they move to another location.”

Inverclyde Council confirmed yesterday that its officers had visited the unauthorised camp and asked the vehicles’ owners to move on, with the convoy leaving soon afterwards.

Among the investments at Lunderston Bay, the local authority spent £200,000 on installing a playpark in 2022.

When contacted by the Telegraph, Police Scotland said they had not received any reports relating to the encampment and added that dealing with it was a matter for Inverclyde Council.

An Inverclyde Council spokesperson said: “We were made aware of four caravans and associated vehicles using this particular car park on Sunday night.

“Our wardens spoke with those on site, and they have since moved on.

“There are no authorised encampments within Inverclyde and our teams will continue to monitor and advise drivers as required.”