A new Aldi supermarket is to be built next to a town's fourth KFC after controversial plans were given the green light.

The store will become the budget chain's second shop in Ashford and will be constructed on the Waterbrook Park estate in Sevington.

The plans have been approved despite objections from an equestrian charity over fears horses might be spooked on a nearby bridleway.

An estimated opening date is not yet known, but it will be constructed next to a yet-to-be-built drive-thru KFC which was approved in 2020.

A bridleway which currently splits the Aldi site will have to be diverted to run alongside a new road and cut across the front of the store.

The British Horse Society (BHS) previously said these changes would be dangerous and the risk to horses and drivers ‘should not be underestimated'.

Despite this, Ashford Borough Council has waved through the scheme and it did not go to the authority's planning committee.

The store will create 50 new jobs and have 130 parking spaces, including eight accessible and 10 family bays, and four electric vehicle charging points.

The neighbouring KFC outlet will feature both indoor and outdoor seating, as well as 42 car parking spaces.

The drive-thru was expected to open later this year but full construction is yet to begin.

Once built, KFC and Aldi will join a huge warehouse on Waterbrook Park which is expected to be run by Amazon.

Elsewhere in Ashford, Aldi is also hoping to build a third store in Kennington, but residents have expressed concerns over issues it will cause for motorists.

Feelings are so strong that signs were put up to protest against the proposal along the A28 Canterbury Road.

Full plans have been submitted, but a decision on the store has not yet been made.

Aldi's first Ashford store opened in Victoria Road in August 2018.