Rock band The Libertines have reportedly bought a 20-room townhouse in Margate - and have already moved in.

The group snapped up the property with plans to turn it into a hotel and recording studio, reports The Sun.

In recent planning applications to Thanet council, a request was made for the "construction of recording studio to existing ground floor single storey extension" at Palm Court Hotel on Eastern Esplanade.

The application also requested the "erection of single storey rear extension, alterations to fenestration, installation of air conditioning units and ancillary parking".

Permission has been granted for the application, leading to speculation that the hotel has been purchased by the band.

The applicant was Russell Solicitors, known as one of the leading firms "in the entertainment industry and particularly in relation to music".

The band, formed in 1997, are due to headline Dreamland's By the Sea festival on Sunday, October 1.

The Libertines, with frontmen Carl Barât and Pete Doherty, will bring the Dreamland event to a close.

Due to capacity constraints, however, organisers have announced it is being moved to nearby Margate Winter Gardens.