A supermarket will shut this week - just seven months after opening.

The owners of Budgens have announced they are closing 34 stores across the country, including the branch in Gillingham High Street.

It will shut on Thursday, with the loss of 37 jobs.

Bosses say the closures are due to “disappointing trading results”.

The Food Retailer Group appointed PwC as administrators last month but a buyer has not been found.

The accountancy firm says it is working closely with unions, the government and the Co-op - which used to own the shops - to make sure workers get as much support as possible.

It was initially thought just 12 shops would close, but today it was announced that 34 will be affected and more than 800 workers are being made redundant.

The Gillingham store opened in June last year after taking over from the Co-Op.

Medway Council owns the Britton Farm Shopping Centre, where the supermarket is based, and councillors agreed in February to rent out the premises if it were to become vacant, as they wanted to make plans to ensure the shop did not sit empty for too long.

The store has been rented for £169,000 a year.