Two Kent towns are to get a share of £1.2m to boost their shopping centres.

Margate and Dartford have been singled out among 12 areas nationally earmarked for the Portas Pilot cash.

It's thought both will be granted £100,000 to rejuvenate their town centres, after more than 370 towns applied for the cash.

Dartford, it was revealed, would open up central spaces for use by classes and clubs - from the Scouts to Slimming World - and start a 'school for shopkeepers'.

While Margate, would put "education and enjoyment at the heart of the town centre's transformation with courses, "job club" services and pop-up shops."

Making the announcement today, local government minister Grant Shapps praised the exceptional quality of the winning bids.

It comes after retail guru Mary Portas visited towns around the country, looking for ways to breathe new life into them and fill empty shops.

Included in those towns was Margate, which she visited last September.

She chatted to traders in the town - where more than a third of all shops are empty.

She left with a damning verdict, claiming part of the seaside town was "practically dying".

Dartford council leader Jeremy Kite in the town centre

Announcing the towns, local government minister Grant Shapps said: "The best local high streets offer more than simply shopping - they are the beating heart of their neighbourhoods: places to meet, work, relax and come together as a community.

"It's why this competition to become a Portas Pilot has captured the imagination of the nation, with communities across the country uniting to support their high streets.

"The quality and sheer number of applications has been overwhelming - 12 winning bids now have the chance receive expert advice and financial support."

He said the response had been so huge he was announcing a second round, available to all those unsuccessful in the first round of Portas Pilots.

Around a dozen Kent towns applied in the first round of funding.

Speaking after the announcement, Dartford council leader Jeremy Kite said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be one of the 12 successful Portas towns and Ministers deserve some real credit for taking Mary's report on the chin and doing something practical about it.

"Win or lose, we found the process of putting the bid together really useful… although it's far better to win!"