About 50 new jobs will be created at two Kent ports after an £8 million investment from a transport company.

Chatham and Ridham Docks will form part of a multi-million pound contract between Simon Gibson Transport and Aggregate Industries, one of the largest importers of cement in the UK.

The deal means the haulier will pick up bulk cement from six UK import terminals over five years, including the two Kent sites.

Simon Gibson Transport, based in Yorkshire, said it will increase its fleet of trucks from 85 to 147 after earning the contract and will recruit new drivers at each of the ports.

The others are at Plymouth, Glasgow, Ellesmere and Goole in East Yorkshire.

Managing director Simon Gibson said: “‘It’s fantastic news for us as a company and will see us drastically increase the size of our fleet from January 2017.

“It also means that we’ll be investing in each of the six areas of the UK where the ports are located, creating new jobs.

“We’ll be establishing a presence close to each of the port terminals, and will need to have drivers and management based there to deliver the contract.”

The company will move bulk cement through Southside 3 at Chatham Docks and Ridham Dock.

The new contract will boost its turnover to £24 million in the next financial year.

Paul Barker, port director at London Medway Ports for Peel Ports, which runs Chatham Docks, said: “Our 20-year masterplan for the port of Sheerness identified that there’s huge potential for aggregates shipments and we’re delighted to welcome this additional investment by Simon Gibson Transport to make full use of the excellent bulk facilities at Chatham Docks.

“With our redevelopment plans for the former Thamesteel site receiving planning permission, and the record-breaking grain shipment with the largest agribulk vessel to call at Sheerness, the latest announcement is yet more good news for the local economy.”