A gas-fired power station which will supply energy to 1.5 million homes has been given the go-ahead.

Energy Minister Charles Hendry today approved a ScottishPower bid to build the new 1,000 megawatt gas-fired power station near Hoo.

It will be near the existing Damhead Creek 800MW gas-fired power station.

Charles Hendry said: "This power plant will play a vital role in providing secure electricity supplies for the South East, as well as creating jobs in the region.

"It will be one of the most efficient power plants in the world, and be built carbon capture ready, which means that eventually CO2 produced by the plant could be captured and transported for storage under the North Sea.

"There is also potential, in the future, to use the heat created by the plant to supply the local area."

The Damhead Creek 2 Combined Cycle Gas Turbine Plant could generate enough electricity to supply almost 1.5 million homes.