A popular jewellery brand has opened its latest Kent store - and sparked long queues.

Pandora launched at Westwood Cross in Broadstairs today, filling part of a former Clarks store.

The Danish manufacturer is known for its charm bracelets, designer rings, earrings, necklaces and watches.

To celebrate the opening this morning, the first 50 shoppers through the doors received a £30 gift card.

The company, which was founded in Denmark in 1982, takes the other half of the former Clarks store, which shut in June, having been one of the founding members at the centre.

It becomes the eighth site in the county - and first in Thanet - alongside existing ones at Ashford, Bluewater, Dover, Folkestone, Maidstone, Gillingham and Tunbridge Wells.

It will soon be joined by Rituals, which is set to open on Wednesday (November 5).

The luxury cosmetics store will fill the other half of the unit to become the latest store to open at the centre - which also welcomed fried fish American fast food franchise Captain D’s in October.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Westwood Cross opened on June 9 2005, on the site of the former Haine Hospital.

At the time of its creation, it was one of the UK’s biggest open-air shopping centres at 475,000 sq ft.

The mall’s centre director, Fran Donovan, said Pandora is a “fantastic addition”.

“It’s wonderful to see the centre continue to grow with such a strong mix of new and exciting brands,” she said.