A BUTCHERS is expanding into the Maldon area with a new shop planned for the centre of town.

Smiths of Essex is preparing to open the shop in the former Buntings of Maldon building in the High Street.

Owner Aiden Smith comes from a family of butchers and grew up working at his grandfather's shop in Boreham.

He opened his own shop in 2016 in Brightlingsea High Street.

Aiden said: “I live in Maldon and am very excited about the opportunity to open a second shop here.

“We will be in the same premises as the Buntings butchers was which recently closed and have offered jobs to all of the former Buntings staff.

“We will continue to trade with the first class standards that have come to know from Buntings and you will see the same familiar faces of staff.

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"We pride ourselves on providing high quality and locally sourced meats, including making our own sausages and burgers, and have developed a range of oven-ready dishes.”

The smithsbutcher.co.uk website has a shop online option for click and collect or local delivery.

Deliveries can be made across the Maldon district.

The new shop is set to open on Thursday, September 1.