A private hospital which also cared for NHS patients has closed its doors.

Last month BMI Healthcare announced it was closing The Somerfield Hospital, leaving 62 people facing redundancy.

The hospital was expected to close by mid-April. BMI have now confirmed the hospital closed on April 1.

More than 20,000 patients came through Somerfield Hospital's doors between July 2015 and June 2016.

But the 38-bed hospital had struggled to compete with other private hospitals including KIMS in Weavering.

A member of staff told the Kent Messenger: "It's felt like a closure has been coming for a while.

"The hospital has been grinding down slower and slower, there's been no marketing or business strategy set out for about 18 months.

"We're all very sad. There's people who have worked here for more than 20 years."

A spokesman said: "This has been a difficult decision to make, not least because the staff at the hospital have been so dedicated and take pride in the level of service they provide to patients.

"But we have seen new independent providers opening in the area and this has affected our activity and financial position. After looking at this in detail, we have concluded that the logical option would be to close."

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone