Shoppers have hit out at a shopping centre for shutting a shop "they don't think is posh enough."

The Cornish Bakery in the Ashford Designer Outlet announced it will be closing its doors this Sunday.

Andrew Mugliston, Cornish Bakery head of operations, said: "We haven't been told by McArthur Glen the reason for closing.

"The lease was up and not renewed by them, and apparently another national café chain is taking the unit.

"All I can say is that it was one of our most successful units, and we are immensely proud of our tripadvisor certificate of excellence, so the decision to leave was most definitely not ours!"

Pat Whiting, a regular customer at the eatery, said she won't visit the Outlet when the bakery closes.

She said: "We went in there yesterday and the staff told us what was happening. They were deeply distressed by it, it's a ghastly situation for them.

"They are being kicked out because they do not fit what the Outlet want.

"It is very popular but I think the outlet are getting rid of them because they are not posh enough.

"They want more high end stuff and apparently it's going to be a more high class bakery.

"But we would not have any reason to go there if they close it down and so we certainly wouldn't bother returning to the Outlet."

Mr Mugliston said staff have been offered a support package with an offer of relocation in one of the other Cornish Bakeries.

They have also been offered a generous redundancy package and support finding new employment.

He added: "We are constantly on the lookout and opening new sites - at least four will open in the first half of 2017 - so hopefully we’ll be back in Kent very soon.”

The Ashford Designer Outlet has been contacted for a comment.