100 jobs will be created when a top retailer arrives in Medway.

Discount clothing store TK Maxx is set to open in Chatham on July 3, taking over the former Marks & Spencer site.

The building has been empty since June 2006 when Marks & Spencer closed after 72 years of trading. The property stood empty for almost two years.

It was first rumoured TK Maxx would be moving into the vacant store in December when a formal planning application was submitted to Medway Council to make changes to the shop.

However, a spokesman for TK Maxx refused to confirm the plans at the time.

When M&S closed, shoppers feared it would lead to other big names pulling out of the town centre. But the news of TK Maxx’s arrival has been welcomed.

The new store will be more than 24,000 sq ft over two floors. It will sell womenswear, menswear, homeware and gifts/

Natalie Callas, spokesperson for TK Maxx said: “We are delighted to offer Chatham’s shoppers a brand new TK Maxx store and hope they will love the new, stylish department store feel."

TK Maxx is owned by US company TJX. It has more than 2,200 stores across the States and Canada.

The first TK Maxx opened in Bristol in 1994. The chain has grown to nearly 200 stores across the UK and Ireland.