Shoppers have reacted with sadness to the news a long-running supermarket will close after almost 20 years.

Lidl in Sturry Road, Canterbury – one of Kent’s most deprived areas – has been deemed “unfit for purpose” by bosses at the discount retailer.

They have confirmed the shutters will come down on Sunday, May 28, sparking fears its loss will impact low-income families and students who rely on its bargain prices.

David Beasleigh has been shopping with the retailer since the end of the first lockdown after long-term illness stopped him working and forced him to count the pennies.

He told KentOnline he will be devastated to lose the branch and noted that the distance to the closest Lidl – five miles away in Herne Bay – “won’t suit everyone”.

“I’m lucky because I do drive, but it won’t be feasible for me to drive to Herne Bay,” he said.

“I doubt it will be possible for those on public transport to do the trip too; it won’t suit everyone.

“It will add to the worries about the finances. I started coming here because I needed to tighten the pursestrings.

“No doubt we’ll end up at Aldi, but I don’t think it’s as good; it’s just a personal opinion.

“I’m going to miss the bakery definitely, and I’m a big fan of the pear cider too.”

Retired couple Pam and Roy Gardner also lamented the store’s impending closure.

“I really don’t believe it; it’s a terrible shame,” said Mrs Gardner.

“We’ve been coming here for three to four years now and some of what you can get here is brilliant.

“The fruit and veg section is fantastic; there are great offers too if you’re willing to have a look.

“There will be a massive impact especially for students - it’s important for them to have somewhere like this close to them.”

The Sturry Road site - which some residents recall being home to an Argos before the current Lidl building was built - has been listed on the rental market, with Caxtons offering the property on a flexible lease.

Once the supermarket shuts its door, its nearest branch will be more than five miles away in Herne Bay.

“We first opened our store on Sturry Road almost 20 years ago and unfortunately, it’s no longer fit for purpose...”

News of its closure comes just 18 months after Aldi opened a stone’s throw away, with a long-running Asda supermarket also across the road.

It is not yet known what will happen to the shop’s vast workforce, but Lidl revealed it hopes to “redeploy all colleagues where possible”.

However, one employee at the store - who asked to stay anonymous - hit out at their employers and stated their belief the decision was “purely financial”.

“It’s been done for financial gain, and most of us aren’t going to be able to move or travel to Ramsgate or Herne Bay,” the worker said.

Northgate councillor Alan Baldock says he is disappointed to hear the news, adding that in the city’s most deprived ward shopping choices such as Lidl provided “great value food”.

“I really hope we can find a new tenant for the site soon,” the Labour leader added.

A spokesperson for Lidl says the supermarket is closing because it is “no longer fit for purpose”.

But they confirmed hopes of finding a new home in the city.

“We first opened our store on Sturry Road almost 20 years ago and unfortunately, it’s no longer fit for purpose,” they said.

“The store will therefore be closing on May 28, and we will look to redeploy all colleagues where possible.

“Our teams are actively looking for suitable sites in Canterbury for a replacement store, and you may be aware that we offer a finder’s fee for anyone – including members of the public – that successfully identifies a viable option for a new store.”