by business editor Trevor Sturgess

The race to sell Olympic merchandise is speeding up at Bluewater with the opening of the latest London 2012 shop.

Rail passengers from Kent and Medway will be familiar with the shop at St Pancras International but the new outlet at John Lewis Bluewater is the first outside central London.

John Lewis is Official Department Store Provider to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games,

The ground floor shop, opening on Monday, will showcase more than 600 official London 2012 products, ranging from official mascot stickers costing £1.95 to a special edition London 2012 Panasonic camcorder at £549.

First-week shoppers will also have the opportunity to win an official London 2012 Scalextric Velodrome cycling set, signed by Olympic Gold medallist Bradley Wiggins, in a special prize draw.

Karen Lord, managing director of John Lewis Bluewater, said she was delighted that Kent shoppers would be able to buy souvenirs in the store: "With less than a year to go until London 2012, excitement is building all over the country," she said.