A new shop in Chatham, which has created 12 jobs, has opened its doors for the first time.

Deichmann shoes has opened a store in the Pentagon Shopping Centre, where WHSmith used to be.

Deichmann has stores in 22 European countries and the USA. The first UK branch opened in 2001 and there are now more than 90 stores across the country.

The retailer is different from a traditional shoe shop in that it displays the shoes in pairs and in their boxes, so you don’t have to ask an assistant for the other shoe.

To celebrate the opening Deichmann is offering customers a range of promotional offers and mark-downs.

Jonathan Rutter, store manager, said: “We’re really excited to have opened our doors in Chatham and are thrilled to have been able to help create some new local jobs.

“We’re looking forward to getting to know all the local shoppers and hopefully becoming a well-loved fixture in the Pentagon.”

WHSmith closed in April last year, as the branch was not making enough profit and its lease for the premises was coming to an end.

It closed in the same month as Tesco in The Brook, which has now been taken over by Go Outdoors.

For more information or to apply for a job at the new store, visit www.deichmann.com/GB/en/corp/careers.jsp