One of Kingston's biggest department stores has announced the date it will re-open next month.

John Lewis on Wood Street will welcome back customers on April 12, almost four months since the store temporarily closed due to lockdown.

Thirty-four branches of the chain across the UK will also be re-opening on this day.

But the company also revealed that eight stores are set to permanently close as a result of the pandemic.

These include the John Lewis branches in York, Sheffield and Aberdeen.

This means that almost a third of John Lewis stores have or will be closing as a result of the pandemic.

A sad day for those who love the department store.