TWO new shops could open soon at a burgeoning retail park.

The Town's Moor development, between Russell Street and Bolton Road, Blackburn, opened late last year and Blockbuster Video, Wickes Home Improvements and What Everyone Wants have already opened branches there.

Now property developers Ardwood say negotiations are well advanced with two more companies to complete a full house at the site. Spokesman David Barlow said: "We are confident there may be an announcement in a month or so.

"In general things appear to have been going very well there. I spoke to the manager at Blockbuster and he said the opening of the store had been the second most successful they had ever had, and I believe that kind of trend has been followed with the other retailers. Certainly the car park always seems to be full."

Town's Moor is part of council planners' scheme to extend the town centre southward. The idea is to link The Boulevard, the railway station and Town's Moor with the rest of the town centre. Plans to divert traffic from Church Street and Darwen Street on to a new orbital route around the centre are part of the project, as are the ongoing £5.8million redevelopment of the railway station and the proposed cinema development on land to its rear.

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