Diners at a popular restaurant which often sees queues of people snaking out of the door have welcomed plans for its expansion.

Wagamama at the Ashford Designer Outlet is set to fill another empty unit next door to cope with the huge demand for tables.

The chain, which serves Asian food based on Japanese cuisine, already occupies one of the outlet's biggest premises, but wants to increase the number of covers it can cater for.

The move has been welcomed by visitors to the site, who say a bigger restaurant would be a boost given its popularity.

Ella and Holly spoke to KentOnline just after leaving the restaurant, saying there is always a wait to get a table.

"I think it is good because there is always a queue," Ella said.

"This is the first time we've been able to get in there to eat for ages.

"I think it should expand. It is always busy because it's nice in there. Queues are really long in the summer holidays."

Tracy Warner had also just had a meal at the restaurant with a friend, revealing she is put off going in there if there are people waiting outside.

"I won't go in if there is a queue, but we've just had a very nice lunch in there," she said.

"It is better the empty unit is used than not.

"They get busy in there so extending will be a good thing and it will create more jobs."

Wagamama first came to the outlet at the end of 2012, and permission has been sought for the hours of the unused unit, which it is set to expand into, to be extended.

Currently, this unit - previously occupied by Regatta - can only be open until 7.30pm so Wagamama is asking Ashford Borough Council to extend the opening hours to 9pm – in line with its current open hours.

Also at the outlet, clothes store Jack and Jones has opened in the £90 million extension.

Nike has also expanded, making it the second largest store at the shopping centre.

It is not yet known when Wagamama will expand into the empty unit.