Travelodge has announced it is to open its Sittingbourne Central hotel this November – creating 16 new jobs.

It is estimated the 56-bedroom hotel, which will be built on the old Bell Centre site in Bell Road, will add £1 million a year to the local economy through tourism.

The hotel is one of 14 which will be launched by the company this year at an investment of £141.5 million. Twelve of these openings will be in the UK and two in Spain.

The town hotel will be the company's first one to use the new room design "created" by its customers.

Features include a new luxury kingsize bed, which houses two truckle beds in its base, designed to replace the traditional sofa bed.

Travelodge chief executive Grant Hearn said: "This capital expenditure will help us to grow our business in locations such as Sittingbourne, strengthen our product offering and make Travelodge the best value hotel chain in the UK.

"As part of this year's investment we have worked with our customers to create a new Travelodge room which offers more comfort, quality and style.

"The hero of our new room is a luxurious bed that is normally found in high-end hotels."