A Dorset town which is due to grow by a third after a multi-million pound investment has hosted a visit from the government minister who holds the key to Dorset's future.

MP Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, visited Gillingham on Tuesday after councillors hailed the town's development as a "real success story".

Plans to build 1,800 new homes and an employment development in the area were given the green light following a £3.45m investment from the government.

The funding was secured by the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership, which has been granted a total of £19.5m for several projects across the county.

In Gillingham, the funding will help pay for improved roads and junctions, which are needed to ensure the housing and employment development can go ahead.

Rob Dunford, interim director of Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership, said: "We're delighted to have secured Growth Deal funding for this important project in North Dorset which will transform Gillingham and bring significant​ and​ much​ needed housing to the town.

"We look​ forward​ to the plans​ being​ implemented​ and delivering growth in the local economy in an important area of the county​."

Councillor David Walsh, deputy leader of North Dorset District Council, said: "The whole community is behind the development of the town, which I know can be rare.

"Residents are celebrating the growth of our town. We want to improve and develop the area and its infrastructure because without this, the town will stagnate and die.

"Welcoming Mr Javid was a big deal for us. It is very important that he came to visit because this is a very positive story."

Mr Javid heard a presentation about plans for Gillingham before meeting a number of representatives from the town, including a vicar and the head of a school.

Cllr Walsh said: "It was brilliant to have the opportunity to talk about our town.

"We say, 'we do it with the community, not to the community', and it's a real success story."

Speaking when the investment was announced in March, councillors said the improvements could transform Gillingham into a commuter town.

Cllr Peter Finney, Dorset County Council’s cabinet member for environment, highways and infrastructure, said: “This funding for Gillingham will help provide essential highway improvements on key routes in the town, which will support the development of new homes and the creation of more jobs for the local area.”

Mr Javid will soon announce his 'minded to' decision after considering local government reorganisation (LGR) plans.

However, he wouldn't be drawn on whether he will back a scheme to unite Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch into one unitary council, and Purbeck, North Dorset, East Dorset, Weymouth and Portland, West Dorset and Dorset County Council into another.

Cllr Walsh said: "Of course, there's a lot of interest in that but we'll all find out in the coming weeks."