Did you know that the Folkestone is one of the sunniest places in Britain, according to weather experts?

Or that Dungeness is Britain’s only desert?

Shepway District Council has put out 10 quirky and interesting facts about the district, and is encouraging people to add their own.

It is part of a staycation promotion of the area just before the Bank Holiday weekend.

A council spokesman said: “Luckily for Shepway residents all the ingredients for a break without the escape are on our doorstep.

“That’s because Shepway’s past and present make it a great place to spend a long weekend.’’

The 10 facts are listed in www.facebook.com/shepwaydistrictcouncil#neverknewthat.

The spokesman added: “We hope that this is just the start and residents of Shepway will share their interesting or quirky knowledge of the area by adding to the list.’’

“Well I never knew that.’’ The 10 quirky facts about Shepway.

1) There are only two sandy beaches within an hour’s rail journey from London – one is Folkestone’s Sunny Sands, the other is...Calais.

2) Folkestone averages almost 2,000 hours of sunshine a year, making it one of the sunniest places in the whole of the UK.

3) King Edward VII frequently brought Queen Alexandra and his mistress Alice Keppel to the Grand Hotel. Her great granddaughter is Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

4) Folkestone is home to the world’s highest brick arched viaduct.

5) The first nunnery in England was founded in Folkestone.

6) The Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway line to Dungeness was re-opened by Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in 1947.

7) The physician who ‘discovered’ blood circulation was born in Folkestone in 1578, his name was William Harvey.

8) The Shepway coast runs 42km from Lydd Ranges, west of Dungeness, to the Warren, east of Folkestone.

9) The Short Step Memorial Arch, located on Folkestone Leas Promenade, is the only new physical structure built in the UK to commemorate the centenary of Britain joining the First World War.

10) Dungeness is classified as Britain’s only desert by the MET Office.