A German supermarket has confirmed it is “on track” to unveil its new village store late this summer.

Budget chain Lidl closed its doors to the public in Hawkinge on New Years’ Eve to prepare for demolition. The single storey building, which had been flooded on occasions when heavy rain fell, was quickly torn down.

The steel posts creating the outer shell of the new premises now replaces it.

Lidl previously told Kent Online that the Haven Drive store would be closed for up to 12 months while work went on.

It confirmed that it would reopen before the end of 2017, but it has since emerged that shoppers will have just four months to wait.

A Lidl spokesman said: “The store is on track to open in September.

“We’ll be in touch closer to the time with more detail.”

Its glass-fronted design has been described as “cutting edge” and the store is set to double in size.

There will be 106 car parking spaces, with seven disabled and three child spaces.

There will also be four gaps for motorbikes.

The new shop will have more designated areas for fruit, vegetables, meat and poultry as well as chilled and baked goods.

The original Lidl store first gained permission from Shepway District Council planners in September 2005, with a small bakery extension then approved in 2013.

The next nearest Lidl branches are in Shellons Street, Folkestone, or in New Street, Ashford.