Premier Inn is set to open its doors in Sevenoaks after a multi-million pound council investment.

Sevenoaks District Council plunged £8million into the development and is now leasing the building out to the hotel giant.

The 83-bedroom hotel will open to guests on Friday.

The lease is set to run for 25 years and is thought to be worth around £500,000 a year.

The new hotel has created 26 new jobs, 15 of which went to workers who were not in education, employment or training.

SDC decided to build the hotel in a bid to become self-sufficient after government stopped providing support grants to local authorities across the country.

It is based on the old Sennocke car park on Hitchen Hatch Lane near Sevenoaks railway station.

To make up for the car park's loss, Bradbourne car park's capacity was raised.

Cllr Peter Fleming says: "The handover and opening of the new hotel is a proud moment for everyone concerned as nearly three years of planning and building works have come to fruition.

"Tourist attractions and local businesses have been calling for a flagship hotel in Sevenoaks for many years. I believe this £8 million investment will boost the local economy for years to come while at the same time generating important income stream to help us remain financially self-sufficient and protecting the high quality local services that our residents enjoy."