Sevenoaks MP Michael Fallon took a trip to Brands Hatch to meet local businesses and discuss interest-free loans and funding.

Mr Fallon met over 50 business-people at the event on Friday, October 3 where he introduced a government scheme aimed at helping small businesses in west Kent develop.

The Escalate Fund is a £5.5m government scheme that offers interest-free loans to existing companies around the A21 corridor to encourage them to create jobs and expand.

Money for the initiative is coming through the government’s Regional Growth Fund.

The aim is to create and protect 1,250 jobs through more than 150 businesses, helping those who have struggled to secure bank loans.

Mr Fallon spoke with local businesses about future opportunities and explained the fund in more detail.

At the event he said: "As an MP I will do what I can locally to support Escalate."

For more information on the scheme and how it operates, click here.