Hundreds of people attended a public meeting calling for Manston Airport to be saved.

The rally was called by Thanet MPs Sir Roger Gale and Laura Sandys, who have spearheaded the campaign to keep the airport open.

A 45-day consultation was launched on its closure earlier this month, putting nearly 150 jobs at risk.

Residents at a packed Acol village hall, near Birchington, were told about the anonymous offer which has been submitted to buy the airport - and keep it running.

With the meeting heavily over-subscribed, many attendees had to listen to the proceedings on speakers outside the venue on Saturday.

More than 12,000 people have signed a petition to keep the airport open.

Despite finding a potential buyer, Sir Roger Gale MP made it clear that a deal had not been done

He said: "It would be quite wrong of me to raise false hopes.

"At the moment there is no deal. We have to understand that."

Stagecoach founder Ann Gloag bought the airport for £1 from New Zealand-based owners Infratil in November.