CALLS for new high-speed rail links to cut the journey time from Folkestone and other Kentish towns to London to less than an hour have been backed by Chris Huhne, Liberal Democrat MEP for Kent. Mr Huhne, who is also Lib Dem deputy leader in the European Parliament, has written to Richard Bowker, chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority, supporting Rail for Folkestone and similar campaigns.

"A new high speed link to significantly cut journey times to the capital would make Kent more attractive both as a leisure and business location," he said. "High speed rail links have done wonders for boosting the economic prospects of regions all over the EU and it is time we brought the same sort of benefits to towns like Folkestone, Dover, Canterbury, Medway, and to Kent as a whole."