Toys R Us is set to return to Kent this summer as it prepares to open in a high street.

The big-name retailer is bringing back its iconic shops to the UK after it closed all of its branches in 2018.

The popular toy giant will be opening concessions within WHSmith stores.

And Canterbury’s St George’s Street is on a list of nine locations where the retailer will be launching.

The former Toys R Us branch in Chatham closed in 2018.

Home Bargains, Aldi and a KFC drive-thru have all taken up space at the site since - with plans for a fitness business to open falling through earlier this year.

Sean Toal, managing director of WHSmith High Street said: "At WHSmith, we're always exploring new opportunities to launch exciting, new product ranges to our customers on the high street, and our partnership with Toys R Us certainly does this.

“The brand has long been known for its exceptional range of toys and games and complements our existing offer well.

“Across each of the nine locations, we have a great team of colleagues who look forward to welcoming many new and existing customers over the coming weeks and showcasing the new store layout and, not forgetting, Geoffrey the Giraffe.”

The first store will be opening on June 10 at WHSmiths' Monks Cross retail park in York.

Other shop-in-shops to be rolled out in the summer include Chelmsford (High Street), Cheltenham (High Street), Cwmbran (The Mall), Oxford (Cornmarket Street), Poole (Towngate Shopping Centre), Reading (Broad Street) and Solihull (Mell Square).

The US chain went into administration in February 2018 after bids to save the company were unsuccessful.

Toys R Us was struggling internationally, and sought bankruptcy protection in the US and Canada in 2017.