A popular shopping centre ice cream stand which closed suddenly at the beginning of the year is set to return in a few weeks.

Tracy Heyburn had served generations for 30 years at Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre before she was forced to close on January 6.

The closure, which was prompted after a dispute between the 54-year-old and centre management, left many shocked and upset.

Now, the Walderslade-born businesswoman says the stall will hopefully be making a return at the beginning of April.

Tracy revealed she had a meeting with management and is expecting to set up shop either at the BB's unit or outside Boots and Bodyshop, pending a licence confirmation.

The ice cream boss also has her eyes set on opening a second stall at Chatham Dockside in the summer after the "amazing" support she received from bosses there.

She said: "Dockside were so nice and were going to house me, so I'm hopeful to open there in the summer holidays.

"Returning to the shopping centre is really great news.

"The support I've received has been amazing and overwhelming.

"I'm thinking of doing an open day one morning to thank all the people who have helped."

Tracy wants to make some changes to the stall, which was previously forced to move to make way for sandwich giant Greggs, before she welcomes customers back.

The stall employed between five to 10 people depending on the season.

More than 4,000 people signed a petition to try to save the ice cream stall from leaving the shopping centre after a dispute between management and Tracy saw her leave.

She claimed she was unable to operate at her new site due to a lack of adequate power for her freezers and other appliances.

However, Hempstead Valley management say Tracy served her notice to quit her tenancy in December, which she strongly denied.

The Medway woman was left feeling "upset and disappointed" at having to close after 30 years.

Previously, she told KentOnline: "It was embarrassing. I was speechless. I did not know what to do. It was a Friday and too late to call a solicitor."