A council is to consider donating event tickets to military personnel in a bid to fill empty seats.

A motion put forward at Medway Council by Cllr Mick Pendergast (Ind) calling for the authority to work with armed forces charity Tickets for Troops received cross-party support on Thursday night.

Free tickets could be made available for events organised by Medway Council, while the authority would also encourage production companies using its theatres and venues to do the same.

Cllr Pendergast said such a move was fitting for “those willing to make the ultimate sacrifice” and would further enhance the Towns’ “rich military heritage”.

He added: “Whether it’s Medway Council functions or a performance held in Medway’s venues, often these events have empty seats.

“To fill them with members of the military community and friends would be a good thing all round. But this is not a one-way street – there are commercial advantages.

“Those who attend events with courtesy tickets will buy refreshments and are more likely to purchase souvenirs, as well as take home details of other events which they will want to buy tickets for.”

The idea will be considered by officers before cabinet members make a final decision.

Cllr Teresa Murray (Lab) has asked Gillingham Football Club – currently sponsored by Medway Council – to get involved with Tickets for Troops if the motion is signed-off by cabinet.

She added: “The armed forces are particularly overrepresented in mental health services and the homeless.

“Their families, as a result of being associated with someone in the armed forces, suffer a disproportionate amount of disruption. Anything we can do for those people is very important.”