About 150 new jobs are to be created with the creation of a food hall at the flagship John Lewis store at Bluewater.

Bosses at the store are to transform the basement into a food hall - a move which will end Marks & Spencer's 10-year grocery monopoly at the Kent shopping centre.

Simon Russell, managing director of John Lewis Bluewater, said recruiting would begin "early next year" for 150 new posts in the food hall. Around 1,200 staff already work at the store.

Since Bluewater first opened its doors in 1999, hungry and tired shoppers have only had one place to grab their trolley full of food supplies on their way home - Marks & Spencer.

Now, space used for storage beneath the John Lewis store will become the retailer's only food hall outside London, as part of a £20 million refurbishment.

Mr Russell said: "It is an exciting project for everyone involved at the branch. We are confident customers will really appreciate the enhanced shopping experience."

The John Lewis partnership also operates Waitrose supermarkets and the food hall will be run under the Waitrose brand.