A campaign urging Sainsbury's to fill one of the town's biggest retail areas, which has been empty for three years, has gathered 1,000 supporters.

The site of department store Beales, a the Angel Centre in Tonbridge, has remained empty after going into administration.

Last week, the Tonbridge Conservative group launched an appeal to the supermarket giant, who own the lease for the site, urging them to regenerate it.

It is being backed by Tonbridge and Malling MP Tom Tugendhat and has gathered nearly 1,000 signatures.

Cllr Vivian Branson, cabinet member for economic regeneration at Tonbridge and Malling council, said: "The support we have recieved over the last two weeks has been fantastic and goes a long way to demonstrate the real community feeling here in Tonbridge.

"To receive nearly 1000 signatures so quickly shows the strength of feeling that people have towards this campaign.

"We will not stop calling for Sainsbury's to take action until they have brought forward plans for the former Beales unit at the heart of our town."

Previously, Tory MP Tugendhat said: "Nearly three years ago the former Beales unit closed. Since then it has remained closed and the only people who can change this is Sainsbury's.

"For a town like Tonbridge we need to see this site open again. It is important for our town and for everyone who lives, works, and shops in our fantastic town."

You can support the campaign here.

A Tonbridge Conservative spokesman added: "It is clear that the people of Tonbridge have run out of patience and want action as soon as possible.

"It is as important as ever that Sainsbury's bring forward their plans for the empty unit immediately, so that the building which at one point housed the Beales department store can be bustling with life once again."

Founded in 1881, Beales operated on the site for 18 years. They took over from another family-run firm, Bentalls in 2002.