Kent’s coastal towns could be in line for a share of government money to help them boost jobs and investment.

The government is expected to announce today that it is allocating an additional £1m to its Coastal Revival Fund - which has already helped scores of projects in seaside towns to the tune of £120m since 2012.

Communities minister Mark Francois is to visit Ramsgate today (Thursday) to announce that it wants new bids for a share of the money.

He will also highlight the success of the scheme to date in a report showing that for every £1 invested through the scheme, there is an estimated £8 boost to the area.

He said: “We’re determined to unleash the enormous potential of our Great British Coast, which is why we’ve invested £120million in the last three years alone.”

“We’ve already helped more than 200 projects get up and running across our much-loved seaside towns, bringing not just a wave of excitement but also protecting or creating up to 18,000 jobs.”

He added: “And with every £1 we invest having the potential to create an up to £8 boost to our coastal economies - that’s money well spent.”

He will be shown around the area by South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay.

Kent’s coastal towns have already benefitted from earlier rounds of the scheme, with grants helping several areas.

A grant of £1.9m was given to Thanet council to support its bid to bring back into use the derelict Art Deco cinema at the Dreamland site in Margate.

Ramsgate has already benefitted from a £350,000 grant to the Marlowe Innovation Centre in Ramsgate, allowing it to more than double its accommodation and support services to small businesses and new start-ups and create 70 new jobs.

It is also benefitting from a £247,000 grant to attract more visitors to Thanet's unique coast and associated heritage assets.

The news of an extra £1m comes after grants were awarded to 77 projects. The government said the extra allocation was being made because many of those that missed out were high quality schemes.