The events of September 11 have put on hold a £3million hotel expansion that would have created up to 30 jobs.

Whitbread had planned to invest the money in the Marriott Tudor Park Hotel and Country Club at Bearsted, near Maidstone.

Plans for up to 50 new rooms had been drawn up when terrorists struck in New York and Washington.

The atrocities have devastated international tourism, especially in London.

While Whitbread is still pumping around £2million into refurbishing existing rooms at Tudor Park, it has delayed a decision on the extra accommodation until the middle of this year.

Kent area director Robert Clewley said the proposed extension would create between 25 and 30 jobs.

But there was not a good economic case for having 50 additional hotel rooms in Maidstone when demand was not strong enough.

"We've taken a tough view on investment," he said. "If we can guarantee a return for our shareholders, we'll invest. But if we are uncertain, we will review the position midway though this year.

"You could take the view that tourism will be back on song by the middle of the year. Equally, and God forbid, further terrorist activity or future downturn in the worldwide economy would make investing not good for shareholders."

But, given a general upturn, "we are pretty confident that Maidstone has a good future. Building a bigger hotel there will be very good news for the community".