Shoppers who feared there would be "nothing" left in a town centre shopping centre are delighted Next has u-turned on its plans to close.

The clothing retailer announced earlier this year it would be shutting its County Square store and leaving Ashford for good.

But in a surprise move, bosses have now reversed their decision after negotiating a new lease.

The news is a much-needed boost for County Square, following the recent closure of other key stores.

In March, the H&M which neighboured Next shut its doors, leaving an empty unit in the shopping centre's extension which opened in 2008.

Next is also opposite the abandoned space left behind when Debenhams closed its three-storey unit in January 2020.

KentOnline spoke to shoppers at County Square yesterday about the news Next is staying put.

Regular customer Nicola Elcock, from Mersham, said: "It's definitely a good idea it's staying open.

"I work around here so on my break there would literally be nothing to look at if it closed."

Her mother Sandra Elcock said: "We shop here a lot. If it closes the nearest is Maidstone and Canterbury, so I'm happy about it staying."

Shopper Karen Beaney said she was pleased to hear Next is staying open and would have been "sad to see it go considering all the other shops have closed around it".

"I come shopping in town almost everyday to have a stroll and grab the bits I need," said the 49-year-old.

"I'm really pleased it's staying open. I used to always shop in Next for my son when he was younger. They have generous sizing and really good quality clothes.

"Now I've got grandchildren so I go in and browse for them.

"I used to go to H&M and Debenhams so if Next was to go, I would have been quite upset.

"We do not need another shop closing, not down this end especially."

Rose Paul who lives near the town centre regularly visits Next and likes that they have "a good selection of children's clothes".

"I'm happy to hear it’s staying open," the 32-year-old said.

Willesborough resident Sandra Hills, 70, said if Next did close, there would be "nowhere else to buy ladies' clothes" in town.

"It's excellent it's staying," she said, adding: "I come up here quite a often."

New owners were found for County Square earlier this year after the site was put on the market for £13.5m.

A spokesperson for County Square said: “We are pleased to announce the completion of the lease renewal for the Next store in County Square.

"As Next were one of the major national tenants who have been in phase two of County Square since its inception, the new owners are delighted to have reached an agreement between both parties.

"We look forward to continuing to work with Next in providing a great shopping experience to shoppers and visitors.”

In 2020, River Island pulled out of the centre, and has since been replaced by a Jobcentre.