A temporary supermarket is set to open next week after a fire destroyed the main store earlier this month.

Fresh pictures today show progress on the new structure being built on the Morrisons site in Cheriton Road, Folkestone.

The supermarket's press office have confirmed that the temporary store is expected to open on Wednesday, December 5 - less than three weeks before Christmas.

A spokeswoman for Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) confirmed that all permissions needed to open a temporary store have been granted, and can now open whenever it is ready.

The move comes after council leader David Monk vowed to 'speed up the planning process' for the supermarket.

The building went up in flames on Thursday, November 8, after a deep fat fryer in the store's cafe is believed to have caught alight.

More than 50 firefighters battled the blaze at its peak and fortunately, there were no injuries.

The chain confirmed last week that a new temporary store would open in time for the festive season and announced that once complete, the store will be around 10,000 sq ft in size, with enough Morrisons stock for a weekly shop as well as Christmas products.

The temporary store will include fridges, freezers, signage, checkouts and 'everything that customers would expect from a supermarket'. It has also applied for an alcohol license.

The new structure is around 50m long, 20m wide and 10m high. White metal girders make up the frame with a plastic canvas as the roof.

Around 20 workers were spotted on site today and could be seen from the Three Hills car park cutting, delivering and installing metal.

The store, set to be located in the bottom left of Morrisons' car park, is currently guarded by red bollards. The car park remains closed.

The company previously confirmed that they will address plans to rebuild the permanent store 'in time'.

A dozen fire engines were called to the store at around 7.30am on the day of the fire which destroyed the building's roof.

The Three Hills Sports Park, next to the supermarket, was evacuated for the day because of the smoke from the store.

The road was closed off but re-opened the day after with temporary traffic lights in place.

Cllr David Monk also confirmed that the store had assured there would be no risk to jobs.

A free bus service has been taking place for customers between the stop outside the bowling club next to the Morrisons store, with passengers being driven to the Dover store and back again.

Services have been running between 9am to 6pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 5pm on Sunday, as well as extra delivery slots on their website for home deliveries in Folkestone.

To hear from eyewitnesses at the scene, visit our live blog of the day's events.