A college has officially opened a new £12.3m building to help create "the next generation of artists".

The performing arts and digital centre opened at North Kent College, in Dartford last week, offering "incredible opportunities" for its students.

The facilities will be used by pupils who study dance, musical theatre and graphic design, and it has a food court the entire Dartford campus can use.

It contains 2,836 square metres of floorspace, including a performance venue, dance studios, music performance spaces, and digital design classrooms.

The centre opened on Tuesday, October 11 and there was a ribbon cutting by MP Dehenna Davison, minister for Levelling Up and a plaque unveiling by Cllr Roger Gough.

KCC leader Cllr Gough said: "This centre of learning provides the most incredible opportunities for young people to enjoy some of the very best and most professional training available across Kent."

North Kent College chief executive David Gleed said the facilities mean they "can respond to growing student demand and contribute to the long-term growth of the creative and cultural sector".

He added: "Our new Performing Arts and Digital Creative Centre at Dartford builds upon, and will further enhance, our exceptional reputation for the arts at North Kent.

"We thank all of our partners in successfully bringing these projects through to such an impressive conclusion."

"It truly is an inspirational space, full of hope, ambition and aspiration for all of its students to become the best performers they can possibly be."

At the opening, Levelling Up minister, Dehenna Davison MP said: "This space will support the next generation of artists not just to grow, learn and become masters of their chosen fields, but also to pursue fulfilling careers and realise their true potential.

"And that’s actually what this government’s Levelling Up agenda is all about.

"It’s about making sure everyone in this country, irrespective of where they were born, or they come from, have everything they need on their doorstep to really thrive.”