Construction firm the Gallagher Group has invested £5m in new equipment for its quarry in Aylesford, after being encouraged by an upturn in the economy.

The company, which is based at Hermitage Quarry, has spent out on a series of extra vehicles for its aggregates business.

It has taken delivery of four Hitachi wheeled loading shovels, 10 Volvo tipping trucks, a Metso LT125 crusher and three 50 tonne dump trucks.

It comes after the company was given permission to extend its quarrying activity at the site, which employs more than 100people.

Along with Blaise Farm Quarry near West Malling, it is one of only two remaining Kentish Ragstone quarries, and the last with "high-quality" material left.

Chief executive Nick Yandle said: “With the construction economy showing signs of a concerted upturn, particularly in residential development, now is the right time to upgrade our equipment as we extend the quarry and serve our customers.”

The 34-tonne Hitachi machines are the first of this size to be used in the UK.

Their buckets are capable of lifting up to 5.6 cubic metres of material.