Brother and sister Tom and Jenny Ripley are to take over Greenways garden centre in Bethersden in January - the first time the centre has changed hands in almost 20 years.

They plan to call it Ripleys and add a hairdressing salon.

The site has been owned by the Ripley family for around 40 years but Tom, 32, a former team manager at Waitrose, Canterbury, and his insurance broker sister Jenny, 34, have given up their day jobs to concentrate on the venture.

Tom will be investing £150,000 to upgrade the premises, which will retain the independent A-Z Animal Care and The Antiques Barn businesses on site, and a new business, Olson Timber Buildings, will be added. The Garden Restaurant, run by his cousins Andrew and Brad, will continue to trade as normal

The centre’s product range will be expanded to include gifts, candles, cards and children's toys.

Tom who plays cricket and football in the district and began his 16-year Waitrose career at the Tenterden branch, told the Kent Messenger Online: “We have lived in Bethersden all our lives so lots of people know us. Our garden centre will be family-run and we hope people will get behind us."

Greenways, run by Alan Greenway for 19 years, will officially close on Christmas Eve after a final sale.