Dorothy Perkins, Evans and Burtons in Dartford will close this weekend.

The Arcadia Group, which runs the stores, said both would close on Saturday, June 14.

The shops are situated in the Orchards Shopping Centre.

A spokesman told the Messenger: "We are constantly reviewing our store portfolio across the group, and leases continually expire or come up for renewal.

"We are always looking at how to shape our store portfolio, investing in flagship stores, and increasing our brands' presence on-line.

"When leases expire that we do not renew, we endeavour to re-deploy staff affected to another store within the Arcadia Group as much as we can."

In February, after a decade of trading in Dartford, Waitrose shut its doors for the final time.

Meanwhile, figures released today showed Dartford's jobless total down 25 to 1,243.

The Orchards Shopping Centre opened on September 28, 1989.