A well-known toy company has closed one of its branches this week and confirmed it will not be relocating.

The Entertainer in The Mall, Maidstone, has finally shut after a massive sale to get rid of stock.

The Entertainer operates more than 170 stores and is the UK's largest independent toy retailer.

Initially the shop put up signs saying it would be closing "for relocation", with any queries being directed to customer services.

It was unknown where the store would be moved to.

Those signs were then replaced with ones that said "closing down sale – everything must go".

Customers could grab toys for up to 50% off their marked price.

The company has now confimed the store will not be moving elsewhere and is shutting down permanently.

A spokesman for The Entertainer said: "We are sorry the store will be closing for good and has not been relocated.

"There is a possibility of the store reopening in the near future."

The next nearest branches are in the Pentagon Shopping Centre in Chatham, or at Bluewater in Dartford.

Customers are still able to purchase items through their website.

It was also expected the store would shut today, but the unit in the lower floor of The Mall was seen completely boarded up on Thursday.

People took to social media to express their upset over the closure, with one commenting: "Unfortunately high street retail isn’t what it was and there will be more and more empty shops.

"This is sad, but the town planners need to think out of the box.

"I would convert half The Mall with the old cinema into Kent’s top theatre and entertainment complex...shop space in Maidstone needs to halve or it will just look like a sad ghost town."

Another said: "No toy store in town so close to Christmas absolutely ridiculous."