The owner of a popular arts and crafts shop has thanked customers for supporting the business over the past four decades.

Just Fabrics, in Chatham, closed its doors for the last time on Saturday (October 21).

Kerry Shaw, who took over the store around 25 years ago from her dad John Francis, said: “I want to thank everyone, all our wonderful customers who have supported us over the last 40 years.

“It has been amazing. Thank you for the last few weeks and thank you for all your well wishes, cards and flowers.

“You have all been so generous. Goodbye.”

Kerry had to make the difficult choice to shut the store in The Pentagon Shopping Centre as Medway Council plans to transform the first floor into a healthy living centre.

The 54-year-old said she was offered another unit but the higher rent alongside the other bills was unaffordable.

Instead, she started looking elsewhere in the county but could not find anywhere that was suitable.

Speaking previously, Kerry said it was the end of an era. She added: “We wanted to stay but there were no good options. It has been a hard decision to close and turn my whole life into something else.

“I will have to start again. This was going to be my retirement, I always thought I would be here until the end, still serving people with my Zimmer frame.”

Plans to turn one floor of the shopping mall into a healthy living centre were first proposed in late 2021 but the future of the £10.3 million project is unclear.

According to a report from 2022, the project must be completed by March 31 next year.