Staff at Turner Contemporary predicted they would welcome their two millionth visitor today - and they were right.

Just after 10.30am this morning teacher Linda Tucker, accompanied by her colleague Angela Clarke and a group of students walked through the doors.

She was congratulated by Turner Contemporary director Victoria Pomery and gallery trustee Clive Stevens.

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Ms Tucker was given a bottle of Brut English sparkling wine plus a tour and tasting voucher for two from Kent winery Chapel Down.

She also received a special tea for two in the gallery café.

Ms Tucker who is head of art at St Anselm’s School in Canterbury said: “This is such a surprise I am delighted and have been coming to the gallery since it opened.

"I love it and also bring my students to see the amazing exhibitions."

Ms Pomery said: "Congratulations to Linda Tucker.

"We thank her, and everyone else who has helped us achieve the tremendous milestone of two million visits..." Director Victoria Pomery

"We thank her, and everyone else who has helped us achieve the tremendous milestone of two million visits.

"We are thrilled that our two millionth visit was by a Kent teacher, accompanied by her students, as we are extremely proud of our learning programme and engagement with the local community.

"Our continued success is a result of hard work by the gallery team, as well as phenomenal support from artists, audiences and funders."

The gallery originally forecast there would be 150,000 visits a year, but this estimate has been broken each year.

Based on the original estimations, it would have taken 13 years to reach the two million mark.

Instead, there have been an average of 400,000 a year in the five years since it opened.

Two million visits equates to more than 35 times the population of Margate and 500,000 more than the population of Kent.

It also equates to 1,095 visits a day and almost one visit every minute.