A much-loved family-run food shop is set to close after serving its community for almost a century.

Long known locally as "the Bacon Shop", Fresh Foods in Market Place, Dartford, is due to close its doors for the last time on Saturday.

One of the last family-run businesses in the town centre, the shop began trading under the name Fresh Foods in the late 1980s, but had been operating under different names on the site since 1929.

Kevin Westrope, who runs the shop with wife Jean, son Ian and brother-in-law Tony Elcombe; explained redevelopment plans meant they could not pass the shop on to new owners.

If plans are approved, the buildings at 1-5 Market Place and Number 1, Market Street, will be demolished and replaced with a five-storey mixed-use building with retail and commercial use on the ground floor and 14 flats above.

"We've had a lot of people that have said they'll be sad to see it close," he said. "It's the fact our lease is coming to an end and we weren't able to negotiate a new one because there are plans to redevelop the block.

"At the same time myself, my wife and brother-in-law are coming up to retirement. We had looked to pass it on but weren't aware at the time of the redevelopment plans."

Kevin explained that father-in-law David Ridley had taken the shop over around 34 years ago before he and his wife took over 25 years ago.

"The actual shop was started in 1929," he added. "It's had different names but locally it's always known as the bacon shop, because traditionally it's always sold bacon.

"We do still sell bacon but not as much as we used to. I think people's tastes have changed.

"The shop has always remained popular - the plan is it's going to be let on a short-term lease for a year to 18 months."

He said he would miss the customers but was nevertheless looking forward to retirement.

"We've enjoyed it," he said. "With the customers you build up friendships with a lot of them, so that will be a wrench; but we live down at Pett Level between Rye and Hastings, so I won't miss the travel.

"I'm looking forward to spending more time with the grandchildren and enjoying my hobbies - fishing and metal detecting."

While the official closing day was Saturday, he said the shop might remain open for a couple of days afterwards.

Long-term customer Janet Walker said the shop would be missed greatly.

"I've been shopping there a long time," she said. "I think I started shopping there in the 1980s.

"They've been exceptionally good, and they're exceptionally polite. They're well known to all their customers. Everyone is treated as an individual and nothing is too much trouble for them.

"It's the only place in Dartford, especially for older people, that you can go and get one slice of ham or one sausage, and lots of other things individually.

"I think it will be missed by a lot of older people simply for that."

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