Department store TJ Hughes is set to take up the former Debenhams store in Blackburn town Centre, the Lancashire Telegraph can exclusively reveal.

The retailer, which sells a wide range of homeware and fashion products, will move into the Mall next year, it has been announced.

The Adhan Group’s retail arm – the IM Group, which is based out of Manchester - said the new TJ Hughes will open after Christmas.

The store will take over the ground floor of the large unit. Additional plans are to be announced for the second floor.

The Mall will also see a new women’s fashion store - Bonmarché open in the coming month.

TJ Hughes used to be located off Church Street for many years but closed to make way for the development of the Mall and Blackburn Market.

Historic retailer Debenhams announced it would close in 2020 with trading hit hard by the impact of the Covid pandemic and lockdowns.

The Blackburn branch shut in May 2021 and was one of 130 stores across the country which closed.

The store was the flagship retailer in The Mall since it opened in 1979 and underwent a major facelift in 2013.

Since then, a section of the unit has been used by the Job Centre.

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The news will come as another boost for the Mall which has seen a number of popular brands move in in recent months.

In January, following the nationwide closure of Wilko’s, it was announced a new B&M Bargains would open at the prime location.

Waterstones, Flannels, and Ramsdens Currency Exchange have also moved in, as has a Finch Bakery outlet, while the Trespass store which was believed to be closing inside the Mall also said it would stay open.

There have been some closures too, however, most notably the KFC restaurant.