Nando's will open in Sevenoaks where residents have been championing the chicken chain for more than a year.

The Portugese restaurant confirmed today it will be moving into a plot previously occupied by Marks and Spencer in Bligh's Meadow.

A spokesman for Nando's said the branch is due to open next summer.

The announcement comes after months of anticipation and speculation about the chain moving into town.

Earlier this year the Bligh's Meadow site was set to be replaced with a Poundworld, but the plans fell flat when the building landlord decided against the change.

One Sevenoaks resident, Fraser Munro, started a petition in a bid to bring Nando's to Sevenoaks.

Out of 898 people who took part in a Kent Messenger poll about the store's potential move, 634 said it would be a positive thing.

Speaking after today's announcement, Mr Munro said: "I think its a good thing for the town, although i'm sure there are plenty that disagree, even i'm of the thinking that Sevenoaks could do with a break from the multitude of restaurants, coffee shops, estate agents.

"Hopefully this will bring more people to the town to use the other amenities there also."