Bidders for a new local television service covering part of Kent have been revealed.

Two organisations have submitted applications for the licence to launch a new Freeview channel dedicated to Maidstone and Tonbridge.

Ofcom has begun a judging process to choose who will run the service, which will be launched in the next two years.

Ministers want to see a network of up to 60 local TV channels set up across the country.

The first group of 19 are due to launch later this year, all broadcasting on Freeview channel eight.

Among the bids for the Kent franchise is KMTV, which would be run by the KM Group with its partner the University of Kent.

The other application is from TVKent.

The Maidstone licence is among 13 franchises set to launch within two years.

Four of these – Barnstaple, Londonderry, Gloucester and Plymouth – have yet to attract a bidder.

Funding for the services will be provided, in part, by the BBC in return for daily content from the licensees.