The first Travelodge in Dover has been officially opened.

It could become part of a massive expansion in Kent as the company wants to double its portfolio in the county postal area, with 12 more hotels.

Today the ribbon was cut by Sue Chandler and Keith Morris, chairman and leader of Dover District Council, with site manager Paula Brown and company property director Tony O'Brien.

The 108-bedroom hotel, started trading on March 28 at the new £53 million St James' leisure and retail development.

The £9 million investment has created 30 new jobs and it is estimated that the hotel's guests will spend £2 milion a year in this town.

Mr O'Brien said “Today is a double celebration for Travelodge. Not only have we opened our first hotel in Dover but this opening also cements our presence at the UK’s busiest cruise ship ports.

“Kent remains a key growth area for Travelodge.

"We are looking for 12 new hotel sites across the county, which would nearly double our presence in Kent to 25 hotels and represents an investment of £60 million and a job creation of 300.”

The 12 areas Travelodge wants to open new hotels in are Deal or Sandwich, Folkestone, Canterbury, Herne Bay or Whitstable, Bluewater or Ebbsfleet, Dartford, Medway, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Swanley, Tonbridge and Beckenham. That is in Bromley, south east London but still in the Kent postal area..

Cllr Morris said: "Travelodge was one of the first tenants to sign-up for the St James' development, and we’re delighted to see the new hotel open.

" It’s particularly pleasing to see this investment create 30 new jobs, and we thrilled that Travelodge is looking for future sites in Deal or Sandwich as well as across the Kent county.”

Dover Travelodge is perfectly located for visitors to enjoy everything on offer at St James but also have Dover’s rich array of attractions on their doorstep.

This includes: Dover Castle, The White Cliffs, Dover Museum and the Bronze Age Boat, many of which are within walking distance of the hotel. Not to mention the close proximity to Dover’s magnificent waterfront, and the ferry and cruise terminals at the Port of Dover.”

Ms Brown said: "Our new hotel has got off to a flying start.

"Business on the books is very encouraging and we are set for a very busy 2018.

"This is great news for the local economy too; as research shows that our customers will spend £2 million a year with local businesses during their stay.”

The Dover Travelodge, in St James' Street, is the 13th in Kent.

The other 12 are in Ashford, Broadstairs, Ramsgate, Canterbury,, Dargate and Dunkirk near Faversham, Dartford, Gillingham, Chatham, Gravesend, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells.

The other cruise ports Travelodge has hotels in are , Greenock near Glasgow, Harwich, Liverpool, Leith in Edinburgh, Portsmouth, Southampton, Tilbury and the Tyne at Newcastle.

St James' has had a phased opening starting with Cineworld on March 9.

The developers are Dover District Council and Bond City Ltd and the landowners are Legal & General.