Johnny Depp has agreed to become patron to a Kent wildlife rescue centre.

The Hollywood megastar, who recently visited Folly Wildlife Rescue, has now taken up a role with the Tunbridge Wells rescue service.

The Pirates of the Caribbean star made the visit as he joined guitarist Jeff Beck - himself already a patron of Folly Wildlife Rescue - on his UK tour.

“Following the success of our patron Jeff Beck's UK tour, featuring his good friend Johnny Depp, and Johnny's visit to Folly Wildlife Rescue to see for himself the Trust's work with wildlife, we're very pleased to announce that Johnny has done us the great honour of agreeing to become a patron,” Folly Wildlife Rescue said on Facebook this morning.

“This is wonderful news, as it not only gives a much-deserved boost to our hard-working staff and volunteers, but will help bring attention to the increasingly desperate plight of wildlife.

“That worldwide is under ever-increasing pressure from human activities - and needs all the help it can get.”

Mr Depp, 59, who won his multimillion-dollar US defamation lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard, 36, had previously surprised audiences and fans when he joined Mr Beck on stage in Sheffield and at London’s Royal Albert Hall. He was also pictured at a Newcastle pub.

Folly Wildlife Rescue's hospital is based at Fairview Lane while its offices are on Sham Farm Road.

The sanctuary cares for hundreds of injured, orphaned and distressed wild animals throughout west Kent and East Sussex.