Marks & Spencer’s has dismissed rumours it will be replacing a major retailer which is shutting up shop in an out-of-town retail park.

DIY giant B&Q closed its shutters in the Park Farm Retail Park for the final time at on Saturday, with shoppers unaware of what the future holds for the site.

It was announced early last year that the brand would depart from the town - and October sparked the start of a closing down sale.

In recent weeks the premises has looked empty, with the Trade Point desk being the first to go.

Shoppers are expected to fill the store today to grab what's left of the reduced stock.

With M&S being the only chain to show an interest in Folkestone, it was thought that the Park Farm site was favourite for a return, a decade after it left the town centre’s High Street.

An M&S spokesman said: “We are always looking for new store locations so that we can best serve our customers.

“While we are interested in bringing a store to the Folkestone area, we don’t have any further details to confirm at present.”

Supermarkets Aldi, Waitrose, Asda and Lidl have also said they are not moving to that spot along with Dobbies Garden Centre and B&M Bargains.

On Tuesday, December 20, councillors were forced to debate an application to enable an extension to the range of goods to be sold from the site.

The only clue given was that the mystery occupant would be a new addition to Folkestone’s retail offering.

Permission was granted with an anonymous vote.