A RETAIL clothing firm is opening in Tenterden after making Walter and Son's High Street shoe shop an offer it couldn’t refuse. David Hill, managing director of Walter and Son, which is based at Folkestone, said the closure of his firm's Tenterden shop was not due to lack of trade. He was sorry it had happened. "We have had an offer to lease the building, which we own, from a country clothing company that we cannot refuse," said Mr Hill. “We decided it was the best decision to make to protect the company as a whole.” Its shops in Folkestone, Hythe and Deal would continue to trade normally. He praised the "incredible loyalty" of the staff and said he had recommended them for jobs with the new company. “All three have interviews with them," he said. Mr Hill thanked all those who had worked for Walter and Son during the 35 years it had traded in the town. Manageress Joan Kitchen, who has worked at the shop for 13 years said: "It is sad that we are closing but we have ended on a high note. We have just had a good year and nearly all our stock has been sold in our closing-down sale.”

Mike Betts of fashion shop Adin Coates, in the High Street, said: "Tenterden is known as a clothing town for miles around. I have just had a customer from Worthing.

“I welcome more clothing shops, especially if they can provide something different. The more we have the more the more people will be drawn here."