Cash is being splashed to try to keep shoppers in a Kent town.

More than £300,000 in grant money is being spent in Faversham to help support shops retain vital business in the historic market town.

The money will be spent on a loyalty card scheme for customers, which could be operating within six months, as well as an arts centre, better street signs and giving businesses access to training.

The moves follow a 'healthcheck’ in which hundreds of people gave their views.

The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) awarded £150,000 to the scheme and other grants raised the amount to more than £300,000.

Faversham Enterprise Partnership manager Laurence Young said: “It has been a long haul to reach this point, but the possibilities now opening up are very positive and the project should be good for business in the town and wider area.

“I think we have managed to put together something that will help in a lot of ways.

“I would like to thank everyone who has been involved so far.”

The first development will be the loyalty card scheme, called Faversham Rewards, where customers gain vouchers for spending money in town shops.

The arts centre, which looks set to be created in the former Frank and Whittome building in Abbey Street, could take a year to open. It will provide studio spaces for local creative industry workers.

The SEEDA grant is provided via the Kent Rural Towns Programme. Grant support has also been provided by Faversham’s county councillor Tom Gates, Faversham Town Council and Swale Borough Council to make up a total of £340,000.