TRADERS in Darlington have welcomed the announcement that new owners are to move into the former Dressers store.

The Northern Echo revealed yesterday that North-East firm Bertie Quality Clothing has bought the High Row premises.

The stationers shop closed in April 2001 after 150 years of trading in the town.

Since then a number of national companies have been linked with the site.

The president of Darlington Chamber of Trade, Albion Small, is delighted the shop is set to be redeveloped. He said: "It's great news for the town.

"It will be excellent to have the shop on High Row reopen after two-and-a-half years.

"There has been a lot of rumours and speculation surrounding the site and this news has got to be good for Darlington."

Bertie already runs a town centre site and is looking to relocate in the New Year to its new building, which will offer 11,500sq ft of retail space over two floors.

Town centre manager, Louise Payne, said: "I am delighted that we have got somebody going into the Dressers site, it's a very prominent building in the town centre.

"It will be excellent that a quality independent business has decided to invest in Darlington and increase its size of premises. Bertie is definitely an excellent shop with a good reputation, we are proud of the success it has had so far in the town.

"As a town we are lucky to have a lot of very good quality independent businesses and that is certainly good for the vitality of shopping in Darlington."

The firm also has outlets across the region with shops in Bishop Auckland, Middlesbrough, Stockton and York.