B&M Bargains is temporarily closing 49 of its stores during the coronavirus outbreak, but the retail company has confirmed all 13 shops in Kent will remain open.

These are in in Chatham, Gravesend, Folkestone, Sheppey, Strood, Tonbridge, Thanet and two stores in Ashford, Canterbury and Dover.

The decision to close some stores has come after a review of the company's finances.

Of the 49 shops which have closed, staff will see up to 80% of their wages covered by the government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

They include a number of smaller outlets and ones located in shopping centres, and 42 of them are close to other larger B&M stores.

B&M has been allowed to continue trading under Government guidelines as an essential store, but said it took the decision after reviewing its finances for the last quarter.

A spokesman said: "We will review the trading patterns on an on-going basis and intend to re-open those stores as soon as normal shopping patterns resume."

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