It might be more difficult to jet off on holiday this year, but bosses at a new attraction in the county are hoping our new found love of the staycation will see them off to a good start.

St Andrew's Lake at Halling has opened for a range of watersports and even boasts an 'urban beach' as one of its major attractions.

The former cement quarry is located just off the M2 at Medway Valley Park and the West Malling A228 turn off of the M20.

Set in 140 acres between the River Medway and Pilgrim's Way, the multi-million pound leisure spot, includes a 70-acre crystal clear azure lake, which for years locally has been known as the "blue lake".

The spectacular 30 metre deep water attraction, ideal for scuba divers, is now offering a programme of kayaking, paddle-boarding and pedalo rides for a family hire of £15 per hour.

And you can also relax on the 'urban beach' soon to be filled with white sand.

Around the lake there are plans for a 2.55 km walkway, 411 car parking spaces and a nature reserve.

Dover Sea Sports is the company behind St Andrews Watersports which launched its summer programme belatedly due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Director Stuart Bishop said:"It's early days but so far the response has been good. We are expanding all the time.

"As a business we are 90% down on last year, but with holidays being cancelled abroad we hope to pick up. We are basically still open until the schools go back.

"We are busy with calls from people who have heard of us by word of mouth. And we have people from Medway who come to our centre in Dover coming here."

The masterplan for the leisure scheme includes camping facilities, luxury lodges and zip wire experiences across the lake which is believed to have got its colour from chalk used in cement manufacture.

Facilities are open seven days a week between 10am and 5pm throughout and bookings must be made in advance.

Coaching is also available.

In the past, the lake has been used as a private training area for the Metropolitan Police.

It is next to a development of 385 homes constructed by house builders Redrow.

Read more: All the latest news from Medway