The number of passengers using high-speed trains in Kent has increased by one million in the past 12 months.

Figures released by Southeastern two years after the service to and from London St Pancras International was launched show 8.2 million trips were made in the last year.

The number of passengers using high-speed trains rather than mainline services has also risen. In Folkestone for example, 73% of all journeys are made on the new Javelin trains – up from 67% 12 months ago.

The opening of Margate's Turner Contemporary and the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury are both believed to have brought more people to Kent by train.

In July, 37,000 spectators travelled by train to Sandwich for The Open golf championship at Royal St George's.

Southeastern launched new high-speed services to London from Maidstone West in May and from Sandwich and Deal in September.

More than 160 million journeys are made on the company's trains every year.