Maidstone is soon to lose one of its most familiar trading names.

Clarkes furnishers have been in the County Town since 1929, when the company was founded by brothers Gerald and Ronald Clarke.

Many will remember the devastating fire that destroyed its original King Street branch in 1995 - one of the worst blazes the town has ever seen - prompting the business to move a little later to its current purpose-built premises in Sandling Road, near Maidstone Prison.

But although the business has continued to trade as Clarkes, it has since December 2007 in fact been owned by Lenleys of Canterbury - a furnishing company with almost as long a history.

Now Lenleys has decided to complete the transfer and put their name above the door.

The Clarkes store has temporarily closed today until 9.30am on Saturday, when it will open for a closing-down sale.

The aim is to clear all the stock to make way for a significant two-month interior and exterior refurbishment of the building, starting in March.

The store will re-open in early summer as Lenleys Home.