The agency that promotes the county as a great place for business is celebrating a 50,000 jobs milestone.

Since it was set up 15 years ago, Locate in Kent has helped more than 750 businesses set up, expand or relocate in the county.

The landmark includes jobs saved as well as new jobs created, but excludes jobs lost because firms have gone out of business or moved away.

Some 55% of the jobs came from outside the county, with many from overseas, especially the United States and mainland Europe.

But it was a UK-based digital games company Kempt that tipped LiK over the 50,000 threshold. Chris Kempt, who moved his 12-strong business from St Albans to Canterbury, said the city was a beatufiul place to be.

"It has always been a big ambition of mine to have access to a continual stream of talent and interns. That wasn’t the case in St Albans but very much is in Canterbury with the university on our doorstep."

LiK has faced funding cuts with the demise of the South East England Development Agency but receives £750,000 a year from Kent County Council and a further £250,000 from other local councils and the private sector.

"We punch well above our weight," declared LiK chief executive Paul Wookey.

Before his sudden death on April 26, chairman Sir Brandon Gough said the county was in a much better place for business growth than when LiK was founded in 1997.

He added: "This is an important milestone in our history and an acheivement we are proud of.

"It comes at one of the most challenging economic times we have faced when attracting and retaining jobs in the county is more important than ever."