Violent threats have been made to a family of travellers whose four-year-old boy is awaiting an operation.

They are terrified someone will set fire to their caravans after they were told they would be "smoked out" of their temporary site if they did not leave.

Maxine Neugent was allowed to stay on a disused council compound with her relatives because her son Johnny is due to have his spleen removed.

Her family, including children and pensioners, were moved to Hangleton Bottom by Brighton and Hove City Council on Monday.

They called police after they were allegedly threatened by a man and woman.

Police are taking the threats seriously and the incident has been handed over to the Anti-Victimisation Unit (AVU).

Patrols have been stepped up and officers have been asked to drive past the site when they are in the area.

A Sussex police spokeswoman confirmed the incident was being investigated and said officers had been asked to keep an eye on the site.

Seven related families moved to Hangleton Bottom after they were threatened with eviction from Preston Barracks in Brighton.

The council agreed to find them a less public place to stay because of Johnny's health problems. The youngster cannot move until he recovers from the operation at the Royal Alexander Children's Hospital, Brighton, after Christmas.

He was born with spherocytosis, a hereditary condition that affects the spleen, which has to be removed.

Ms Neugent said: "A grey-haired man and a woman came down here and said we weren't wanted here. They said we would cause problems and that if we didn't go we would be smoked out.

"In my eyes that can only mean one thing, they were threatening to set fire to the caravans. That is a very frightening thing to have said to you with children and old people here."