Shoppers can now enjoy free Wi-fi as they stroll around the town centre.

Mobile, tablet and laptop users who scan for a hotspot can link up to Dartford Town Centre Wi-fi and surf the net free, making it one of the first town centres in Kent to be Wi-fi-enabled.

The service has been launched to let traders inform visitors about their latest offers and promotions, as well as providing them with “digital coupons” for discounts in participating shops.

Independent small businesses would be able to sign up to the scheme for free as a way to attract more customers.

Internet access is being tested but is available to use now, with the coupon system expected to go live in around two weeks.

The coverage is outdoors in the centre of town and will eventually extend as far as Central Park.

Cllr Jeremy Kite, leader of the council, said: “We are using this service to focus on small, independent traders and give them their much-deserved boost to footfall.

“It is now operational and switched on and we are testing it so residents can use it.

“We are going to ask people to give us feedback on it so we encourage people to log on and see what they think.

“The exciting thing we are doing is using it to promote the town and its small traders.”

The council is also planning to deliver local news to all those who connect to the service.

The scheme, which is estimated to have cost between £20,000 and £30,000, has been partly funded by the Portas Project – a pot of money launched by retail guru Mary Portas, famous for her BBC TV series Mary Queen of Shops.

The government-backed scheme was set up to improve retail in the town after it won an £80,000 cash injection.

The project has already helped a number of small enterprises in the town. Last week the Messenger reported on a clothing store which had celebrated its first year of trading under a new roof in The Orchards shopping centre thanks to the financial support of the scheme.

The Wi-fi service is in its early stages and is expected to improve in the coming weeks.