A new branch of budget supermarket Lidl has finally announced its opening date after a long-running store wars battle.

The shop in Medway Road, Gillingham, will become the Medway Towns' first branch when it opens for the first time on Thursday, September 29.

The business has been embroiled in controversy after opposition from nearby rivals Asda and Tesco.

Plans for the development were first announced in March 2019, when the German company exchanged contracts with the University of Kent in order to secure the site.

Asda, which has a branch in Pier Road opposite, opposed the proposal.

Lidl was given the nod to open the branch in April 2020 but faced legal backlash from its competitors.

Plans were repeatedly challenged by the rival supermarkets, with councillors considering the plans four times before permission was granted for the fourth and final time in October 2021.

Planning commitee member Cllr Martin Potter (Con) said at the time: "I continue to support this application as I have in principle since it first came to this committee many moons ago. My colleagues are incredibly disappointed in Asda.

“I think they are behaving like gangsters with deep pockets trying to run their rivals out of town, not dissimilar to the Las Vegas mobsters who tried to keep their rivals off the strip back in the day."

Work finally began earlier this year and recruitment for the new branch is well under way ahead of the store's opening later this month, providing around 40 new jobs.

The store will feature a bakery, customer toilets with baby-changing facilities, and plenty of parking for cars and bicycles.

It will be open from 8am to 10pm from Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

Lidl GB’s regional head of property, Adam Forsdick, said: “It is fantastic we are able to open our doors and welcome everyone into our new store in Gillingham.

"We have received overwhelming support from residents and we would like to thank all those who have played a part in delivering this new store.

"We now look forward to serving our multi-award winning products to everyone.”

The new store is just part of the company's investment of £1.3bn across the country in 2021 and 2022, and Lidl GB is now the 6th largest supermarket in the UK.

The company has also proposed a new branch in Roman Way, Strood, at the former Cuxton landfill, although the planning application is still being considered.