An organisation which runs a host of further education colleges in the county has signed a sponsorship deal with Kent Cricket.

The EKC Group, which runs colleges in Ashford, Canterbury, Folkestone, Broadstairs, Dover and Sheppey - has signed a three-season deal to become the county cricket club's community partner.

The partnership will see EKC Group and Kent Cricket collaborate to open up access to cricket for a new generation of young athletes while the club will offer an education programme which will see top talent go into colleges to speak to students.

Chief executive of EKC Group, Graham Razey, said: “Our group hopes this deal will be able to introduce students from across east Kent to the power of team sports, and cricket in particular. I’m hopeful that this new partnership will break down barriers for the thousands of students within our group who will get the opportunity to engage in cricket and find out more about it."

Kent Cricket’s director of partnerships, Andy Griffiths, added: “This is an exciting partnership that will look to benefit everyone in our local communities."