An old Shoe Zone is set to become a family run bakery within the next few months.

The empty Rainham store will reopen as a Boyce's Bakery and offer 15 new jobs to the community.

Run by Keith and Karen Boyce, their son Tommy Boyce, their daughter Stacey Canty and her husband Nic, the new shop will become the twelfth branch in Kent.

They already have 11 branches across the county – Leysdown, Sheerness, Brambledown, Edenbridge, Allington, Gillingham, Parkwood (Rainham), Canterbury, Herne Bay, Hoo and Snodland.

The business, known for its freshly baked bread and tempting home-made cakes, began with the Leysdown shop when Keith and Karen moved to the Isle of Sheppey from London 25 years ago.

The family ran the bakery and also sold their goods at 16 markets every week.

Over the years the business has expanded and focused more on its shops than the markets.

Tommy, who has worked in the business since he was at school, said: "We're hoping to open the new bakery at the beginning of November.

"We sold our products at the Rainham market, in the high street, for 10 years.

"We knew for a long time that we'd like to set up shop there and finally the time is right to do that."

Boyce's has continued to thrive, despite the pandemic.

They opened in Allington just before lockdown in 2020 and opened in Gillingham High Street in March last year, taking over the former Liddelows Larder bakery.

The 34-year-old finished: "We just want to get set up and baking as soon as we can.

"We're a traditional bakery selling products at a reasonable price and we can't wait to continue serving the people in the area."

Rainham resident, Maria Jarvis, is thoroughly looking forward to the bakery's opening.

She said: "Many Rainham residents have been looking forward to this.

"The bakery in Parkwood is well used and the cakes and bread are very good."