A convenience store has been closed down after police gained a court order having found more than 8,000 illegal packets of cigarettes in the past two years.

The Chatham Express shop in Chatham High Street is the first to be forced to shut in Kent under the legislation following illegal tobacco sales and repeated antisocial behaviour.

The shop was raided for the fourth time since 2018 on June 11 following a stabbing linked to the premises.

On that occasion, officers discovered more than 900 boxes of illegally imported cigarettes.

Magistrates approved the order after police made an application to Folkestone Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

The order means nobody can enter the shop under powers usually used to prevent people entering homes associated with drug dealing or antisocial behaviour.

Officers from Kent Police's Medway Community Safety Unit successfully made the application which will remain in place until September 8.

Any breaches can lead to a fine and possible arrest.

The cigarettes seized last month will be destroyed.

Since 2018, four raids have been carried out with 8,000 illegal packets of cigarettes taken in for evidence along with 400 pouches of tobacco.

Police say the action was taken following "repeated incidents of antisocial behaviour in some way linked to the store".

Sgt Steve Holpin, from the Medway Community Safety Unit, said: "This store was closely linked to a huge amount of antisocial behaviour in Chatham and, despite repeated visits from our officers, the situation failed to improve

"We listened carefully to the concerns of people visiting the town, and businesses in the area, and could not allow the issues to go unchallenged.

"As this case shows, we will always use the full remit of our powers to resolve an issue and take proportionate action against anyone involved in antisocial behaviour.

"I am confident this result will have a positive impact on the surrounding area."

Last month, a teenager was stabbed sparking an operation across Chatham where a knife was found at a property in Hartington Street, about half-a-mile from the store.

The 19-year-old victim was airlifted to hospital with stab wounds but was discharged and later arrested before being released on bail.

Ian Burroughs, of Luton Road, Chatham, is due to appear in court later this month accused of robbery, possession of a bladed object in a public place and grievous bodily harm with intent.

Two other men, aged 26 and 37, have also been released on bail.

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