A German fashion brand has announced when it is opening in County Square amid a raft of changes in the Ashford shopping centre.

Deichmann has confirmed it will be taking over the former Poundland store next to The Entertainer after the budget retailer moved into the former BHS.

The fashion company, which is Europe’s largest shoe retailer, already has more than 80 shops in the UK and will open in the town at the end of July.

Ten jobs will be created in the store, which was previously home to JJB Sports.

Deichmann currently has shops in Canterbury, Folkestone and Maidstone.

A spokesman said: “We have exchanged units and are planning to open a new store in County Square at the end of July.

“We are looking forward to adding Ashford to our store portfolio as it is a great location.”

Elsewhere in the shopping centre, a new barbers - called ManCave - has opened close to the entrance to County Square by the post office.

Owner Paul Harnett, 38, said: “I live in Ashford and it seemed like the next step to go into County Square.

“Surely a local business staffed by local people, investing in the local community, is better than an empty unit not investing in Ashford?”

In the unit next door, Warrens Bakery, a Cornish-based company, is opening its first store in Kent on Wednesday, June 27.

The new store, which is being opened in partnership with local businessman Slawomir Szulc, will sell a range of breads, pasties and sweet and savoury treats. It will employ eight staff.

The bakery’s Carl Mortimer said: “We are delighted to be opening a store in the heart of Kent as we continue to grow the Warrens Bakery family across the UK.

“It will be a great addition to Ashford’s town centre, allowing us to offer our fantastic products to an ever increasing reach of people.”

Elsewhere, the Metro Bank - famed for opening seven days a week - is set to open in the near future in the former Clintons cards shop unit.

The company will extend into the neighbouring Warren James jewellery shop, which is set to relocate to another site in the shopping centre.

The arrival of Metro Bank means shoppers walking into County Square from the High Street entrance will be spoilt for banking choices after Nationwide moved into the adjacent Clarks shoe store last year.

The bank - which will create 25 jobs - will go over two floors, with the first floor offering a ‘mezzanine banking area’.

Metro Bank listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2016.