by Martin Jefferies

Business experts are backing the Kent economy to survive its latest setback, after a military research company announced its base near Sevenoaks is to close.

More than 800 staff at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) at Fort Halstead have been told their jobs are being relocated to the company's other UK sites.

Some workers are facing a possible move to Porton Down, near Salisbury - more than 100 miles away.

It comes just months after pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced it is closing its research and development factory at Sandwich, with the loss of up to 2,400 jobs.

However, Locate in Kent, which is tasked with attracting new businesses to Kent, says the county can still attract specialist industries and retain highly-skilled workers.

Paul Wookey, chief executive, said the organisation will provide "all the support it can to attract investment in the area".

He said: "This really is bad news and very sad for those people in the Sevenoaks area who are affected, many of whom are specialised in defence science and will be forced to relocate to secure their future.

"But this is a case of Dstl having to consolidate its activities; it's not about Kent being unable to support this type of industry.

"In terms of Kent's offer in the defence and pharmaceutical fields, we still have a very strong proposition we can put forward.

"We'll be working very closely with the district council and the developer of the Fort Halstead site to see how we can bring high-quality jobs back into the area."

Mr Wookey said the recent news that Vestas, the world's biggest wind turbine manufacturer, plans to invest in Sheerness, creating up to 2,000 jobs, is evidence that Kent remains an attractive business proposition.

The county's proximity to Europe and its transport links to London and other parts of the UK are important selling points, he added.