A Thai restaurant has pulled out of plans to launch a branch in the county town.

The Giggling Squid was due to open a chain in Maidstone's Earl Street in June but has now announced it is no longer continuing with its proposal.

The firm, which has bases in 10 locations including those in Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks, has sold the earmarked site to Italian eatery ASK.

Founder Andy Laurillard said: “They made us an offer we couldn't refuse."

The undisclosed sum is understood to be "significantly more" than what the property was purchased for.

A spokesman for The Giggling Squid said the company is looking for an alternative spot in Maidstone and is also considering Canterbury has another option.

He said: "They'd love to open in Maidstone, if they can find the right property in the right place for the right price."

He added the decision to sell to the former Grade II listed Maidstone Club, which would have offered 200 covers, was not connected with building constraints.

In September, the council's planning committee rejected the firm's application for partial demolition and alterations.

At the time, the spokesman said the chain was concentrating on its other new branches and added the Maidstone site was a “challenge.”