An agency which encourages companies to move to Kent has done some relocating of its own in a bid to attract new clients.

Locate in Kent, which has helped secure nearly 60,000 jobs in the county over almost 20 years, has moved to Ashford after encouraging scores of firms to do the same.

The team of 11 have taken an office above the international station and said the town’s transport links were a big factor in the move from their previous headquarters in Kings Hill.

Chairman David Fitzsimmons said: “Ashford is one of Kent’s best connected towns, with high speed rail links to London and the continent, and standard rail connections to Maidstone, Canterbury and west Kent.

“These links can only improve following the recent good news about £2 million investment in new signalling at the station which means more international services can stop there.

“The town also lies alongside the M20 and has two motorway junctions and a third in the pipeline.”

Ashford Borough Council leader Cllr Gerry Clarkson said: “It appears Locate in Kent has acted on its own research from its 2014 perception survey, which named Ashford as Kent’s No1 business location.

“Ashford continues to be a big draw, with unrivalled connections to the capital and Europe, a talented workforce and attractive office rents. It’s clear – Ashford is the place to do business.”