The roller-skaters handed out leaflets to rail passengers

Staff at Medway Council got their skates on to outline why the Channel Tunnel Rail Link service should stop in the area.

The skaters handed out leaflets at Rainham, Gillingham, Chatham and Rochester stations to try and muster support.

Commuters were asked to back the council's rail link campaign by completing a questionnaire.

No commitment made

If the link did stop in Medway the council said it would provide four more trains an hour at peak times and two more at off-peak times.

It would give rail travellers more choice enabling them to go to Cannon Street, Victoria and St Pancras in north London.

More commercial and employment opportunities would open up along the route of the link which would benefit Medway.

Speaking to BBC Radio Kent, the council's director of development and environment Richard Simmons said: "The Strategic Rail Authority wants to take the trains as far as Gravesend and stop them there so they would not come to Medway at all.

"We want the government to realise there are 250,000 people here who need these services.

"They are listening I think but at the moment they have made no commitment."