The opening of a bitumen docking area at Imperial Wharf is a positive sign for the river trade, according to the Port of London Authority.

Gravesend once had a bustling industry on the river, which had been declining.

The terminal had not been used for more than 10 years but received its first new visitor on Saturday morning, a tanker named Theodora.

The dock was developed by Dartford based company FM Conway and can handle 7,500 tonnes of bitumen.

A PLA spokesman said: “It’s part of a continual growth in cargo movements all along the Thames. It also means that Gravesend is at the heart of shipping and river trade, not just for the area.

“We’re also seeing wharfs open in other boroughs which is good because it means we’ve got other links developing.”