A DIY chain is set to move from one side of a retail park to another in its latest plans to expand and employ more workers.

Homebase in Park Farm Retail Park, Folkestone, has exclusively confirmed to KentOnline that it will replace the former B&Q site just down the road.

B&Q left the town in January after a two-month closing down sale.

The building has been boarded up for four months and the gates to the car-park padlocked.

The store will be operated by Australian firm Bunnings who bought the Homebase brand in January last year for a reported £340m.

A Homebase spokesman said: "We can confirm that the fifth Bunnings Warehouse pilot store will open in Folkestone."

It aims to phase the current Homebase brand out on a national level.

The spokesman added: "Our team in the existing Homebase store in Folkestone have been made aware and we will be shutting the doors in July.

"We expect the new Bunnings Warehouse to open in July at a nearby site formally occupied by B&Q."

Plans for the existing Homebase store in Folkestone are not known at this stage.

Bunnings Warehouse will contain DIY, home and garden products.

The new Folkestone store is approximately 75,000 sq ft and it is recruiting 40 full and part time staff.

"This is an exciting development for us as our pilot programme builds momentum extending the Bunnings Warehouse offer to a new area of the UK," the spokesman added.

"Our first pilot store in Griffiths Way, St Albans is performing well and we successfully opened the doors to our second pilot store in the town earlier this month."