A town centre restaurant which received a one-star hygiene rating has closed, with a new eatery set to take its place.

Lateef, in Bell Road, Sittingbourne, specialised in Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine.

It received the rating last year when cockroaches, mould and dirt were found in its kitchen by environmental health inspectors.

In April, the restaurant's owner said changes would help see it return to its former glory and it closed its doors in what was expected to be a temporary closure.

Yet Lateef has failed to reopen and is no longer offering a takeaway option on Just Eat.

Speaking recently, its owner said: "We wanted some time to reflect and evaluate, and thought there would be no harm in taking a break.

"To be honest, it's one of the slowest periods of the year, and, even before what happened, things weren't great as it's been hard times for everyone.

"The stuff which happened with us in the news happened last year, and since then we have spent thousands of pounds eradicating the problems.

"At the end of the day, it's my business and we'll decide how to run it – unfortunately people aren't happy but that's the way it is.

"We were always popular, but around the pandemic period things were difficult and there were problems as well with deliveries which we couldn't stop.”

Since closing, a banner has been unveiled outside the restaurant informing people of a new contemporary fusion eatery due to open called Aroma Lounge.

A Swale council spokesman added: “We’ve now had a new food registration for the site, and once it’s open and trading we’ll visit to carry out a full food hygiene inspection.

“It does look like a new owner (taking over), so a clean slate to start again.”