A flower shop which shut shortly after Christmas is set to be turned into space for little learners.

Medway Council has approved a change of use to allow Rose Garden Florist in Walderslade, Chatham to be made into an expanded nursery school.

The flower shop shut its Walderslade Road store, opposite the Co-op, on December 29 after four years of trading there.

It has since moved to Chatham High Street.

Little Buttercups Nursery School, which uses the first floor of the building now wants to expand downstairs, and provide additional spaces for childcare for tots aged between three months and five years old.

Its opening hours will remain from 7am until 6.30pm on Monday to Fridays.

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Information on the planning application states: "There is a high demand in the area for childcare and a shortage of available spaces.

"The nursery school already in operation at the site on the first floor has been successfully in operation for over 20 years.

"This change in usage [is] enabling a successful business to grow and deliver much-needed childcare services to the local community."

JM Properties, which is behind the bid, says the florist’s and proposed nursery both fall within the same class of building use.