A NEW store is set to open in Blackburn town centre, bringing with it 100 full and part-time jobs.

Liverpool-based discount chain T J Hughes is to open in the former Xceptions and Woolworths store at the corner of Church Street and Ainsworth Street.

It follows an announcement that T J Hughes is to open a store in Curzon Square, Burnley, in autumn 1999, creating 75 new jobs.

Managing director George Foster said the Blackburn and Burnley stores would stock the full range of ladies', men's and children's wear, shoes, fashion accessories, cosmetics, fragrances, furnishings, linens, houseware, electrical and gardening goods and toys.

"We are taking the whole 55,000 square foot store and completely refurbishing it," he said.

He added: "We are well known in the North West and getting into the major towns is important to us.

"We are broadening our geographical spread but we want to dominate the North West as well."

T J Hughes, a public company, was started in Liverpool in 1912 and started a rapid expansion in the Nineties, now owning 18 stores. It sells top name brands from Ralph Lauren clothing to Dyson vacuum cleaners.

The new Blackburn store, due to open in April, is being leased from town centre owners Standard Life for 25 years and represents the final major store to be let in the town centre.

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