A Peacocks store will shut for good later this month - dealing another blow to a closure-hit shopping centre.

Staff have been told their two-storey unit in Ashford's County Square shopping centre will close on Saturday, March 23.

The shop, which sits in the centre's main square, has only just reopened after “essential electrical works” forced it to close for more than a week.

Shelves are already looking bare and the top floor has been closed off as workers begin scaling back operations.

A closing down sale is now on and posters showing Peacocks models Michael Owen and Louise Redknapp have been removed from the front window.

County Square almost lost Peacocks in 2020 when closing down signs appeared.

Edinburgh Woollen Mill, which owns the chain, prepared to pull the shutters down on 50 of its stores nationwide during the pandemic.

However, the decision to close the branch was reversed.

In March 2012, the chain did close its Ashford store but it reopened just over a year later.

When the site shuts this month, the next nearest Peacocks stores will be in Dover and Maidstone.

Meanwhile, Select and The Body Shop recently closed their doors for good in County Square.

The town’s other Body Shop store at Ashford Designer Outlet remains open as usual.

Peacocks and County Square have been approached for comment.