A convenience store in Rochester High Street will close and be turned into a restaurant after planners agreed to the change of use.

Castle Food and Wine, which is near the Corn Exchange, will move a few doors away to a former bridalwear shop after approval from Medway Council’s planning committee.

The application had led to objections from residents and traders who were worried about losing the shop premises and felt there were already too many places to eat in the town.

Owners Halpern Properties applied to the council to demolish the existing extension, build a new extension and make alterations to the shop so it can be come a high-class restaurant.

A notice has been put up in the former Bridal Wardrobe shop from Castle Food and Wine applying for a premises licence and to sell alcohol.

Elsewhere, planners have deferred plans to turn a former branch of the NatWest bank in Hoo into a kebab and pizza shop.

The owner of the Anatolia Kebab House, in Knights Road, Hoo, has applied for planning permission to change the bank into a fast food takeaway and restaurant and wants to open it from noon to 11pm, seven days a week.

He will employ seven full-time staff if the plans win the go ahead, but the committee decided to defer the matter for further negotiations.

The bank closed in 2014.