Dozens of jobs in Kent could be at risk as discount retailer Wilko confirmed it has started redundancy talks with 3,900 staff.

The high-street chain reportedly posted an 80% drop in pre-tax profits in its latest results and suggested Brexit played a part in its downturn.

A spokesman told KentOnline: "We can confirm that the proposed changes means that we are talking to 3,900 members of our store supervisory team about our new in-store management structure.

"We can also confirm that we are introducing over 1,000 new senior supervisor roles and a significant amount of customer service roles as we re-invest back into our teams to deliver an enhanced customer experience in store."

The spokesman said a 60-day consultation period was underway and it would be unfair on staff to comment about how many jobs could go until after it had finished.

Wilko has at least 17 stores in Kent, including branches in Strood, Gillingham, Rainham, Chatham, Dartford, Gravesend, Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Canterbury, Ashford, Folkestone, Sittingbourne, Broadstairs and Ramsgate.