Those with a love of saving the pennies will have smiles on their faces and cash in their pockets as another discount chain opens a new branch in the town centre.

Bargain Buys will be opening in King Street, Gravesend, on Friday and will join Poundland, Poundstretcher, 99p Stores, Wilkinson, Aldi and Lidl on the town’s list of cheap and cheerful retailers.

The store, formerly known as Discount UK, will create an extra 20 jobs, on top of the 30 positions already filled.

Gravesend’s branch will be the first Bargain Buys to open in Kent but will be the 33rd store opened across the country.

The chain is owned by Poundworld Retail as is Discount UK.

News of Bargain Buys opening is sure to receive mixed reviews from shoppers and residents alike, with many fearing that the town is quickly turning into a pound shop paradise.

This opinion was compounded by the closure of Marks and Spencer back in September last year.

M&S opened in New Road in 1914, and moved to a different part of the street in 1927.

It closed its doors after 100 years of trading in the town after bosses claimed it was no longer “financially viable”.

The Messenger’s Save Our M&S campaign to keep the store open saw nearly 2,000 people sign our petition.

Campaigning grandmother Vera Purll, 93, who shopped at the branch for decades, even buying an outfit to wear on her honeymoon, collected more than 800 signatures herself.

Sadly, it was not enough.

While some people are concerned about the bargain bucket future of the town, it could be argued that the discount retailers are actually plugging the holes other stores will not fill.

Gravesend town centre currently has 53 vacant shops, which is 11% of Gravesend’s shops that need to be filled.

A percentage that is in line with the national average of between 10-11%, according to Gravesham council.

A spokeswoman said: "The value retail sector has experienced strong business and job growth in the UK as people have become much more price-conscious during the economic downturn and Gravesend is no different from many other towns in that respect.

"They are only one aspect of the great value that Gravesend offers the shopper.”

Bargain Buys claimed to offer customers “incredible value” over 25 departments including groceries, cleaning, home wares, pet care, gardening and toys.

Gravesend store manager Rosmary Price said: “We’re excited to be opening our first store in Gravesend in a prime location.

“We have some unmissable bargains for sale on leading brands that will help our customers save more on their weekly shop.

“As a family-run business we really care about offering a fantastic value shopping experience and we hope the new store will be received well by Gravesend residents.

“We’re expecting a busy opening with thousands of bargain hunters expected across the opening weekend.”