ABOUT 125 healthcare jobs are being created in Kent, it has been revealed.

The American drugs company Abbott Laboratories is boosting the county's hard-pressed manufacturing sector by injecting £39m into a huge expansion of its Murex Biotech factory in Dartford.

The expansion will increase the plant's workforce by more than 40 per cent to 410. It will make Abbott one of the town's largest employers and reinforce the site's position as a key component in the wider UK healthcare industry.

The decision was confirmed by Chuck McGinn, divisional vice-president (operations) for Strategic Planning at Abbott International, who flew in from the United States to make the formal announcement.

Dartford won the investment against competition with locations in two other European locations.

The Dartford plant manufactures a range of diagnostic products for testing blood for infectious diseases, in particular HIV and Hepatitis.

The new facility will play a key role in the initial stage of manufacture of 63 additional products used for testing for conditions such as cancer, thyroid, cardiovascular, fertility/pregnancy and metabolic diseases.

Pete Silveston, site director of Murex Biotech, said: "The investment in the Dartford plant is a major vote of confidence in the capabilities of the Murex workforce, particularly in biotechnology-based manufacturing.

The facility will be a major boost to regional investment in biotechnology and in addition to the £39 million capital injection, Dartford will benefit from the significant economic impact of this new wealth-creating export activity."

Cllr Kenneth Leadbeater, leader of Dartford council, welcomed the decision. He said: "We welcome the Abbott Laboratories investment as it will not only improve local job prospects.

"It will also strengthen our skills base and offer further opportunities to local graduates, as well as demonstrating the significance of Dartford as a location for manufacturing industries in the South East."

Paul Wookey, chief executive of Locate in Kent, the county's inward investment agency, said: "We are delighted that Abbott Laboratories has announced its strategic expansion plans for Kent. The £39m investment recognises the benefits of the location and Kent's position between London and Europe. It will not only create a significant number of new jobs, but it will also strengthen the area's skill mix and economy, and encourage the trend of economic development in the area."

Locate in Kent, Kent County Council and a number of other organisations at local and national level have helped Abbott come to its decision to expand in Kent rather than invest elsewhere.

Kent County Council's Cabinet Member for Regeneration Alex King said: "The decision to expand the Dartford site epitomises how our combined efforts are helping to improve the future prosperity of Kent."

Abbott employs nearly 1,200 people in Dartford and Queenborough on the Isle of Sheppey, about half of its total UK workforce.

The company exports 95 per cent of its output from Dartford and 75 per cent from Queenborough. It has won several royal accolades and last year won the Queen's Award for Enterprise: for International Trade.