Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) has announced the town's market at Lockmeadow will reopen next month with social distancing measures in place.

From Saturday, June 13, the market off Barker Road will be held across two areas to allow people to keep a two metre distance.

Stalls will be placed in the Market Square outside as well as the Undercroft Area which is covered.

The council hopes the reopening will encourage shoppers to support local producers.

Free pitches are also being offered to traders new to the market who make, or produce, their goods locally.

MBC leisure property manager, Alexa Kersting-Wood, said: “Lockdown has given us all the chance to create and reignite relationships with our communities including local producers of food and products who delivered when big brands couldn’t.

“This time has also allowed some smaller producers to shine and show off the great quality that buying local can provide, not only in the product itself, but the customer service and care that comes with it.

“As part of the national ‘Love your Local’ campaign the council is offering small businesses the chance to try out Maidstone Market – encouraging people to shop local and keep those community connections going. We are supporting them by offering small producers of food or crafts a free-of-charge ‘pitch’ for eight sessions at the Market.”

The council says it has already received 20 applications from new stall holders who will provide a wide selection of goods.

The market will open twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 7am to 1pm.

Anyone wishing to register for a free stall should call 01622 602529 or email AlexaKerstingWoods@Maidstone.gov.uk

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone