A memorable feature taken from the original site of Ashford market is to take centre stage in the new Elwick Place leisure development.

The pillars of the former entrance to the cattle market in Elwick Road have been placed within the new multimillion-pound hotel and cinema complex.

Set to open in December, Elwick Place will include a Travelodge hotel, six-screen Picturehouse cinema and a car park.

Eight restaurants are proposed, but developers are struggling to attract tenants to fill them.

The iconic pillars, which were erected in 1878 by J U Bugler, will be displayed in the development to showcase the site's history.

Historian Steve Salter said the gates were taken down when a section of the market was purchased for the development of the ring road in 1970.

The market moved to Sevington in 1998 and the town centre land has been largely derelict ever since.

One of Ashford Borough Council’s Big 8 projects aimed at improving the town, work on the Elwick Road site began in July last year.

The hotel and cinema are expected to open just before Christmas on Friday, December 21.