A large Poundland store has shut its doors for a month – with bosses blaming the closure on low footfall.

Staff at the discount retail giant pulled the shutters down on their shop in County Square, Ashford, last week.

They say it has gone into "hibernation" due to a low number of shoppers visiting the unit.

The store filled the former BHS site in 2018, having previously operated from the former JJB Sports shop a few doors down.

Following the Covid-19 lockdown, Poundland was one of 17 County Square stores to reopen on Monday, June 15, with more following since.

But the shutters are currently down at the unit, which stocks the chain's Pep&Co clothing range.

A Poundland spokesman said: "Our store has gone into hibernation because footfall has still not returned to levels that make it sensible at this stage to keep it open.

"We’ll be keeping a close eye on footfall over the coming weeks so we can get back to normal as quickly as possible."

A one-way system has been operating at County Square since the centre reopened in June.

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