The opening date for a Kent town’s first Nando’s restaurant has been delayed.

Last month, the South African chain revealed its branch on the new Bourne Place leisure quarter in Sittingbourne, opposite the railway station, would welcome its first diners in May.

But, on Monday evening this week, it said the date had been pushed back.

In a post on Facebook, a spokesman said: “It looks like we’re going to need a little longer to make sure our new PERi-PERi flame is looking Extra Hot and ready to go.

“Our opening date has been pushed back slightly. It’s cool to be late anyway right?”

He did not give any indication of when it would open.

It comes after the dining giant - which specialises in Portuguese-style chicken dishes - announced the winner of its competition to cut the ribbon on the opening day.

The chosen Nando’s ‘super fan’ was Jennifer Laura, who also won a free meal for herself and two friends.

The restaurant is part of the multi-million pound Spirit of Sittingbourne regeneration project.

It is set to go underneath the new eight-screen Light cinema, with Pizza Express and Creams alongside it.

No opening date has been revealed for the other restaurants and no planning applications have been put in for signage.

The other vacant units in Bourne Place continue to be marketed. One of them had been reserved for national chain Wildwood but it pulled out when the firm suffered financial problems.

Read more: All the latest news from Sittingbourne