MORE than 200 full and part-time staff will be recruited over the next five months to work in a hotel being built in Maidstone town centre.

The De Vere Group is investing £17 million in building the 122-bedroom Village Hotel and Leisure Club on a site next to the Running Horse roundabout.

Staff are being recruited to work in all the new hotel's departments, including hospitality, catering, conference and banqueting, leisure, administration, finance, sales and housekeeping.

The company has set up temporary offices at 3 Kings Row, Armstrong Road, Maidstone, where job seekers can obtain more information.

The offices are open from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm and further details about the job opportunities can be obtained by calling 01622 672200.

Once built the hotel will include conference, banqueting and business meeting facilities, a bar and restaurant, a pub and a leisure centre containing a swimming pool and fitness and aerobics studios. It is due to open on June 14 next year.