Today is the first day of a 12-week closure at Maidstone bus station, with services relocated nearby while the works are carried out.

Bus stops have been moved to King Street during the revamp of the station, under The Mall shopping centre.

Changes to the station will include improvements to lighting, the replacement street furniture and floor tiling, new signage and real time passenger information.

Plans to revamp the station have been brewing for more than a decade and in July, Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) councillors approved a scheme, costing just shy of £1m.

The majority is being paid for by MBC plus £30,000 each from KCC, Arriva and Capital and Regional, the company which owns The Mall.

Knights Brown have been appointed to undertake the works and will have a dedicated liaison officer on hand to address any issues arising from the construction.

There will be an Arriva duty manager on site from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 8.30am to 4.30pm Saturday to help the public.

The narrow steps between Sainsbury’s and The Mall will be closed to the public during the works although access via the escalators will remain open.

Keep up-to-date with developments on transport and stories that will impact how you travel

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone