A former convenience store which closed not long after being raided by immigration officers has been transformed into a sandwich bar.

Electrician Darren Groves opened his Shed's venture in Ashford last month, filling a vacant unit that previously housed the Bank Street Mini Market.

The 56-year-old, who lives in the town centre, has completed a full renovation of the former Barry's Kitchen site, which sits next to the Salata salad bar.

He is offering a variety of sandwiches, burritos, wraps, baguettes and cakes, as well as a range of drinks.

In April 2019, the convenience store was found to be employing an Iraqi man who did not have permission to work in the UK.

Months later, it was raided again as part of an illegal tobacco investigation.

Mr Groves said: "The previous tenants really hadn't looked after it – there was a constant leak from the roof above and all they had done was left a bucket to collect the water.

"Last year, I was doing work for the guy who owns the building to make it serviceable.

"I was being employed just to do up the shell; running the place myself came about by chance and I will give it the best I can."

Mr Groves, who has never worked in catering before, says he has opted for a "recycled look" inside the bar, with handmade wooden tables and shelving.

"I have tried to utilise the small space as much as I can," he said.

"I am prepared to put the hours in and I am offering stuff which is a bit different.

"It's very personalised and I wanted somewhere where my friends and family could come to have a natter."

Mr Groves hopes Ashford Borough Council will relax parking restrictions in the town centre before 9am to allow more customers to get to his bar.

"It would be a big boost in the mornings if people were allowed to pull up outside or close by," he said.

"They wouldn't be here for four or five hours, it would just be for 20 minutes.

"The banks and most of the shops aren't open until then so people would only be coming in to get something to eat or drink.

"It's not me being selfish – it would help everyone as it would make it accessible for people."

Elsewhere in Ashford, Mr Groves, who is known as 'Shed', helped with the opening of Willesborough's New Fox Inn, becoming one of 24 investors along with former England footballer Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock.

Shed's is open from 7.30am to 3.30pm Monday to Saturday.

Read more: All the latest news from Ashford