A GROUND-BREAKING ceremony has heralded the creation of hundreds of hi-tech jobs.

The second phase of Medway Innovation Centre, a £7 million project, was launched on Tuesday by Cllr Jane Chitty, Medway council's portfolio holder for strategic development and economic growth.

She donned a hard hat and sat in a giant digger to celebrate the occasion. She has spearheaded the dream of an innovation centre in the Towns that will put Medway on the international map for national security and resilience (NSR), a fast growing sector that involves counter-terrorism and surveillance.

It will join the first innovation centre, opened by Cllr Chitty last March, on the BAE Systems site at Marconi Way, Chatham.

"This is a dream come true," Cllr Chitty said at the Maidstone Road, Chatham, site.

"It's so important. It's been a long time in developing it but when you see something coming out of the ground, it gives you such a sense of pride that Medway can come up to the plate a produce something like this. It's special."

The centre, designed by Clague Architects, Canterbury and built by Kier South East of Aylesford is due to open in November.

Sam Hills, 22, and Matthew Goodwin, 21, students at University College for the Creative Arts, have set up a company Oddball Branding.

Their first commission - to brand Medway Innovation Centre - was unveiled at the ground-breaking ceremony with their "Jack had an Idea" design.