A POPULAR visitor centre doomed to closure has been saved at the 11th hour after Kent County Cuncil stepped in.

The council has agreed to take over the running of the Lullingstone Park Visitor Centre and the 460 acres of parkland.

Sevenoaks District Council planned to shut the educational and tourist destination in April because it did not have the money to run it.

But now KCC will look after the centre and the surrounding Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Nick Chard, KCC cabinet member for finance, said he was delighted the centre would remain open. He said: “Lullingstone will be managed with the other KCC country parks, thereby securing its long term future.”

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