Budget hotel chain Travelodge has confirmed details of the 12 towns where it is hoping to open new sites in a move which will create 300 new jobs.

Following the official opening of its first Dover outlet on the £53 million St James' retail and leisure development, it outlined plans for a major expansion.

With 13 hotels already in the county, it revealed it now wants a further dozen as it looks to capitalise on the growing market.

Sites it has begun negotiations for include: Canterbury, Dartford, Folkestone, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Herne Bay or Whitstable, Deal or Sandwich, Gillingham or Rochester, Bluewater or Ebbsfleet, Swanley and Beckenham.

It says specific sites cannot yet be revealed while talks are on-going.

The expansion represents an investment of £60 million, with 300 jobs created.

Tony O’Brien, Travelodge property director said: “Kent remains a key growth area for Travelodge. The county’s reputation as a great short break destination is flourishing and attracting record visitor numbers.

"However, there is still a shortage of branded budget accommodation across Kent.

"Therefore to meet this growing consumer demand we are looking for 12 new hotel sites across the county."

Its existing hotels in the county are in: Ashford, Broadstairs, Canterbury, Chatham, Dargate, Dartford, Dover, Dunkirk, Gillingham, Gravesend, Maidstone, Ramsgate and Tunbridge Wells.