Folkestone and Hythe MP Damian Collins has been named chair of one of the top House of Commons select committees.

Mr Collins was going head to head with his fellow Kent MP Helen Grant (Maidstone and The Weald) in the vote held yesterday.

He won by 302 votes to 230 to become chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee.

All 650 MPs were eligible to vote in the ballot with 532 votes recorded.

Mr Collins, who is already a member of the committee, which is one of the most high profile committees in parliament had been acting chair since July.

He was favourite to take the seat and was nominated by all but one of the committee's members.

Both set out their bids to become the new chair and received cross-party backing from 20 MPs.

Mr Collins said: "As the longest serving Conservative member of the Culture Media & Sport Select Committee and someone who as dedicated my parliamentary career to the important work the Committee carries out, I believe that I am well qualified to become its next chair."

He laid out work to campaigning to reform FIFA and football governance and ownership in the UK generally in his election bid.

Mrs Grant said: "I’ve chaired many high level meetings, committees and negotiations and I also have the benefit of experience from both sides of select committee proceedings. If elected I promise to lead with unity, purpose and vigour."

She highlighted knowledge and experience working in parliament as sport and tourism minister for two years while noting sport as one of her "life's great loves" and campaigning experience to bolster broadband connectivity in rural areas in her constituency.