Sittingbourne’s town centre market will be moving to a new location from next week.

The top of the high street will now be a traffic-free zone on Fridays and Saturdays effective from January 12.

The closure opens the way for the regular Friday market will move from The Forum car park to the high street.

The change of location is in preparation for the leisure quarter, including a cinema and restaurants, being built as part of the Sittingbourne’s £57 million regeneration scheme.

Cllr Mike Cosgrove (Con), cabinet member for regeneration, said: “Moving the market onto the high street frees up The Forum car park ready for construction to begin for the leisure quarter as part of the regeneration scheme.

“The artisan and specialist markets have shown the benefits of bringing traders onto the high street, and the possibility of bringing new activities and performances to attract even more visitors and shoppers to Sittingbourne.”

The closures will run from 7am to 5pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Local bus firms have changed their routes in preparation.

Artisan and specialist markets will return to the high street on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month from March.