Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve has taken delivery of a new fleet of vehicles after signing a deal with a local motor group.

The popular attraction and conservation charity, near Hythe, agreed a deal with the JCB Group.

It means the destination has received 30 new Volkswagen Amaroks and Caddys for its animal welfare, conservation and maintenance teams.

Steve Green, commercial director of the Aspinall Foundation, which runs both Port Lympne and sister park Howletts, near Canterbury, said: “It was becoming a huge financial burden on the organisation to keep our very old fleet in a good condition.

"It would have been easy for us to simple acquire vehicles, but we wanted to find a partner who could not only supply, but collectively work to promote who we are and what we are striving to achieve."

Jonathan Bischoff, managing director of the JCB Group, which has its head office in Gillingham and sites in Ashford, Sittingbourne and Medway, added: "We aim to actively support local charity projects and particularly admire the efforts Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve undertakes in its mission to educate, protect and conserve endangered wildlife.

"We are delighted that our assistance and support in procuring a new fleet of vehicles will help the charity further provide expert care to the animals it protects and deliver more exciting events for visitors in order to generate income to expand conservation efforts.”