Greggs is to welcome back fans of the steak bake as it reopens 17 stores in Kent on Thursday.

The popular pastry purveyor will once again fire up its ovens in yet another signal the high street is starting out on the road to recovery after the long coronavirus lockdown.

Initially the much-loved bakery chain will only be open for takeaways.

Bosses have announced it plans to reopen around 800 stores in total across the country from Thursday, with the eventual aim of welcoming snack fan to the remaining 1,000 sites by early July.

Last month they had to shelve plans for a phased reopening of its stores amid concerns of overcrowding.

Visitors to the firm's outlets this week will encounter new-look stores, with floor markings, protective clothes for staff and screens at counters among the measures in place to reduce the spread of the virus.

There will also be a reduced menu to ensure social distancing in kitchens and workspaces.

Here is a full list of the Kent stores reopening on Thursday:

• Ashford
• Broadstairs
• Canterbury
• Chatham
• Dartford
• Dover
• Edenbridge
• Gillingham
• Gravesend
• Maidstone, King Street
• Maidstone, Longshaw Road
• Maidstone, The Mall
• Paddock Wood
• Sittingbourne
• MFG Cobham services
• MFG Gate services
• MOTO Medway services

Greggs had been allowed to stay open throughout the lockdown, offering takeaway and delivery services.

But bosses declined, saying it felt remaining open would compromise the safety of its employees.

Read more: All the latest news from Kent