Work has begun on a new wake boarding and aqua park in Sandwich.

Whitemills Wake and Aqua Park is set to create up to 15 jobs and could partly be opened to the public in June.

Wayne Cooper from Ash and James Bird from Birchington have masterminded the attraction.

It is located on the corner of Ash Road and the A256 Sandwich Bypass.

After 18 months of planning, construction on site commenced on January 4.

The main frame for the lakeside bar and cafe has already been erected. This area will also feature a decking area and patio.

The business partners, who both come from a construction background, have also dug out the lake areas.

The site will offer 32x21m inflatable aqua park, cable pulley system, open water swimming, wake boarding, paddle boarding and sup boarding.

There will also be parking and landscaping.

The aim is for part of the site to be open by June with the wake boarding facilities - which they say will be the first in Kent - coming later.

Mr Cooper KentOnline he had waited almost 20 years to find the right location for the project.

He said: "We can't wait to get it up and running. It's been a long process but we're getting there."

The planning proposal attracted 46 letters of support and 52 objections.

Neighbouring residents claimed it would be "out of character with medieval Sandwich".

But Sandwich Town Council supported the idea in January last year.

Cllr Dan Friend highlighted the employment benefits while Cllr Paul Carter described it as a "world class facility" helping to keep "people fit and healthy."

The project was then given the green light by Dover District Council in June.