A branch of a sports chain has opened today, in time for Black Friday.

JD Sports, which overall sells sportswear, fashion and lifestyle brands, welcomed its first customers at St James’ Retail and Leisure Park in Dover.

The shop will be the tenth JD branch in Kent.

The new 4,250ft retail space, will sell brands such as Nike, Adidas and The North Face.

The opening has already provided 17 new jobs, with supervisor and seasonal temporary vacancies still available.

On the first weekend, tomorrow and Sunday, shoppers are encouraged to join the celebrations and visit the new store, where they can also enjoy the sounds of a DJ.

Customers then can also try their hand at the JD Crack the Code game, with one shopper each day winning a Crep Protect cleaning set and a £50 voucher to spend in store.

The first 100 people coming in tomorrow will also have the option to claim Call of Duty points, as part of JD’s partnership with video game Call of Duty Modern Warfare.

There will be more chances to win the following weekend – December 2 and 3,

Shoppers can then try the JD Ballnado game and try to catch as many balls as possible in the allotted timeframe – with one winner each day winning a £50 JD voucher.

DJs will again be playing music that weekend.

James Air, boss of group acquisitions at JD said: “We are delighted to be further extending our network with a brand new opening in Dover.

“The store will provide a full family offer to an area of the country where JD has been very popular,”

The company had applied for planning permission, including the addition of a mezzanine floor, to take over the vacant premises in September and that was granted the following month.

The new branch’s opening hours will be Mondays to Fridays 9am to 8pm, Saturdays 9am to 7pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm.