Dartford Cricket Club are ready to rejoin the county’s elite after clinching their long-awaited return to the Kent League Premier Division.

The champagne corks were popping on Saturday when Dartford were crowned Division 1 champions after winning away to The Mote.

Just 12 months ago they finished runners-up in Division 2 – after seven years at that level.

Dartford captain Garry Cook said: "It’s surreal. We were effectively in Division 3 three years ago because we got relegated and then reprieved when Hythe were demoted.

"We survived, consolidated the year after and then went up on the final day last season. This is the reward for a lot of hard work. We’ve not been in the Premier League for 12 or 13 years.

"For me, it’s a great feeling. People here want to keep building and make this one of Kent’s leading clubs again."

Dartford won five games on the bounce in the first half of the season, although four straight defeats in July and August threatened to derail their promotion hopes.

However, they won three of their last four matches to take the title by 11 points.

Cook said: "We set out to stay in the division this year but once we started getting on a roll, we just kept going.

"We had a massive blip where we lost four on the bounce but in the last month of the season, we played some good cricket.

"Everyone beat everyone this year. It’s the best season I’ve been involved in."

Read the full story in the Dartford Messenger.