A former Sittingbourne town centre shop which was once part of a furniture store is to be sold at auction.

The unit in Bell Road was formerly occupied by Gerald Lukehurst, but closed in July 2010 when the company relocated to the Retail Park off Mill Way.

It has remained empty ever since, but plans by Firm Ground Investments to convert the building into flats were accepted by Swale council last December.

It could now become a five-storey block with nine apartments.

The auction at Detling will be on Tuesday, June 13. The guide price is £450,000.

It says the proposed development would have two flats on the ground floor, six spread over the next three floors, and a fourth-floor penthouse flat with terrace.