A new surfing experience providing waves throughout the year could be coming to Kent.

Plans have emerged for a Wave Garden to be created at Betteshanger Country Park, near Deal, helping attract thousands more visitors to the former colliery.

It would be similar to The Wave in Bristol, which is described as "an inland surf destination that allows people to surf on consistent safe waves all year round without going to the sea".

The site in Bristol includes a 180m surfing lagoon that can generate up to 1,000 waves per hour, ranging from 50cm (1.7ft) to almost 2m (6.5ft) in height.

It is suitable for everyone from the beginner to the seasoned professional.

The team at Quinn Estates, which took over Betteshanger park in 2019, are behind the ambitious project.

Chief executive Mark Quinn said: "We want to create a wave garden which is a unique surf facility and experience.

"There's none in the south east of England and you're only allowed one in each key area and this would be the one for the south east.

"We anticipate that we could be looking at transforming our visitor level numbers from 170,000 a year towards 700,000 a year with the creation of this facility.

"It creates hundreds of jobs and creates a huge amount of opportunity for every type of person to be able to join in and enjoy the benefits of surfing, body boarding, all the things this wave garden allows you to do."

Also included in the plans to overhaul Betteshanger is a new 5* hotel, with 56 rooms and an outdoor swimming pool.

Mr Quinn said it could be similar to that of The Grove in Hertfordshire, and would bring a slice of "luxury and quality" to the area.

Betteshanger Country Park includes 230 acres of land and is situated on the former Betteshanger Colliery, which was the largest coal mine in Kent and closed in 1989.

It now includes walking, running and cycling paths, picnic spots and space for other activities, such as archery, fossil hunting and orienteering.

A new mining museum and visitor centre is currently being created at the park, led by the Kent Mining Heritage Foundation.

Following a series of delays, including financial issues and Covid-19, it is now due to open early next year.

The museum will tell the story of coal in Kent, such as how the fuel source was discovered, the mass migration of miners and the unique communities they created, the impact of coal mining, the struggles of miners and the industry's demise.

Quinn Estates are also proposing to build a new housing development close by, named Cottington Park.

This would include 975 homes, a two-form entry primary school, a park-and-ride with electric buses linking to Deal railway station and other improvements to local roads.

Homes - a mix of self build and custom - would have reduced energy consumption and solar panels connected to home battery systems.

Householders additionally will be able to use electric vehicle charging points and nature boxes would be installed to protect and encourage wildlife.

There is also the promise of expanding the country park to include Cottington Lakes, creating what Quinn Estates calls a green lung totalling about 400 acres.

On-site sporting facilities for football and rugby are also planned, including a new clubhouse and multi-use games areas.

For every house built, 20 trees will be planted says Quinn, increasing the number of trees at the park to 150,000.

No formal planning application has been submitted for the housing scheme yet, but it would be built in phases over the next two decades if approved.

But an application for the Wave Garden and hotel could be submitted early next year.

If this is approved, construction could start in 2022 and delivery in 2023.

Read more: All the latest news from Deal