An international church movement which has millions of followers worldwide has set up a base in Folkestone.

The Christ Embassy now has its international office and a conference centre in the former Eurotunnel Exhibition Centre at Cheriton Parc.

The Christ Embassy holds events all over the world, with 25,000 people attending a recent one at ExCel in London and another 15,000 outside who were unable to get in.

The audience saw people in wheelchairs who were suddenly able to walk once they had apparently been healed by the church leader, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.

He attracted a large crowd when he preached at the Johannesburg Stadium in March last year.

The organisation said events will be held in Folkestone, and it has a television station called Loveworld TV, where they will be advertised. A spokesman at the Christ Embassy in Folkestone, who did not want to be named, said: "We will hold events in Folkestone. They will be church events. Miracles will be performed. There will be full services and healing. There will be miracles of every kind."

On the Christ Embassy website the Rev Oyakhilome is described as a teacher, a healing minister, a television host and bestselling author who has "helped millions experience a victorious and purposeful life in God’s world".

The site includes a section called Criticisms and Persecutions. It says: "Some go as far as saying that the healing miracles that take place in the ministry of Pastor Chris are staged and people are paid to falsely demonstrate healing. This is absolutely untrue. Truth is, they know the miracles are real but they are incensed that the miracles, signs and wonders aren’t happening where they are."