Sixty jobs are set to be created as an outdoor pursuits shop starts work to take over the site of an old supermarket.

GO Outdoors this week confirmed rumours of its plans to move into the empty Tesco at The Brook, Chatham.

Many were disappointed when the store closed in April, and for months there were suggestions it might continue as a supermarket under budget chain Aldi.

But the camping and outdoor sports shop has taken it on with plans for a “significant refit” of the 40,000 sq ft building, before opening in March.

A spokesman said the company would be employing 60 new members of staff from the local area.

Chris Matthews, GO Outdoors’ CEO, added: “We are delighted to be opening our 55th store in Chatham.

“Our superstore will stock a huge range of outdoor gear at the great prices allowing our customers in west Kent to explore the great outdoors for less.”

The closest stores are currently in Thurrock and Canterbury.

Tesco had been serving Chatham and the area since the 1970s and 121 people lost their jobs when it closed its doors.

The branch was shut down as part of a company-wide cull to cut costs, with 42 other Tesco stores also closing.

The closure followed news that Tesco scrapped plans to expand its Strood store and that Sainsbury’s had decided to pull out of building on Medway City Estate.

This year the supermarket giant reported the worst results in its history, with a pre-tax loss of £6.4 billion for the year to the end of February.

According to the company, jobs should be advertised “soon”.