There is huge relief in Bearsted this week with the news that the future of the shops in The Parade is secured.

There was consternation when the freeholders of the building, Evenden Estates, first announced in December 2014, their intention of demolishing the existing structure and rebuilding to include three ground-floor shops with seven flats above.

Family butchers WJ Crouch warned it would be the end of their business, and the scheme would also mean that Taylors Newsagents and EJ Computers would be forced to look for a new home.

The village rallied round, with protests outside the stores, and no fewer than 300 objections being lodged with Maidstone Borough Council.

The Bearsted and Thurnham Society lobbied Historic England in a bid to have the building listed - it has an unusual canopy and some notable architectural features, and the society also gained support for the Save Our Shops campaign from several past and present MPs for the area and from KCC leader Paul Carter..

After having a second planning application rejected by the council, the freehold owners decided to put the property up for sale and the Crouch family have bought it.

Rob Crouch said: "My mother Rowena, sister Sara and I have combined our resources to buy the building.

"We were lucky, because the freeholders didn't even tell us they were trying to sell, it was just by chance we discovered it. Then we had to see off several bids by rivals who had a similar mindset to Evendens as to what to do with the building."

"It's good news for the whole community, because once a village loses its focal point, The Parade, it tends to die.

"It's been a long battle, with businesses and people's jobs at risk.

"I'm very grateful for the support the village has given us. We put some balloons out on Saturday to celebrate and lots of people came in to offer their congratulations."

Mary Richards, secretary of the Bearsted and Thurnham Society, said: "We are absolutely delighted. This is fantastic news."