Shoppers will have to wait a little longer after the opening date for the new Maplin store in Sittingbourne was put back.

The electronics specialist was due to open a branch in what was the Paul Simon bed store at Sittingbourne Retail Park in Mill Way on Saturday, May 13.

But now bosses have delayed its first day of trading until Saturday, June 10. They said the hold-up was due to “a timetable shift”.

A spokesman said: “Work is starting on the site within the next two weeks and there will be a special opening event on June 10.”

He added that the new store will feature a services consultation area, gaming area and play tables.

The eagerly-awaited arrival of Maplin follows the opening of a Marks & Spencer Foodhall in March.

The foodhall is in the unit next door to the new Maplin store, which used to house Lukehurst Furniture. It brought 70 new jobs to the area. The figure for Maplin is not yet known.

The nearest Maplin stores are more than 12 miles away in Chatham, Maidstone and Canterbury.