SPECULATION over which high street retailer will take over the former Asda store in Bishop Auckland has ended.

Homes and Gardens chain Wilkinsons has announced that it will be moving into the Newgate Centre in Bishop Auckland this summer.

Up to 80 jobs will be created in the town when the 20,624 sq ft store opens in August.

The unit in the Newgate Centre has been empty since Asda moved to its new £15m store in South Church Road, on the outskirts of the town, last November.

The announcement has come as a relief to other traders in the town who have been worried that the unit could be left empty.

Town centre manager Ken Wilson said: "It is good to have an anchor tenant committed to the Newgate Centre.

"It would have been disastrous to open the refurbished centre without a new retailer in place."

New manager for the Wilkinsons store Keith Short and assistant manager Rob Cooke visited the new site last week.

Mr Short said: "We very much look forward to welcoming customers to our new store.''

Major refurbishment work is still being carried out in the Newgate Centre following a £2m investment by Asda.

As part of the facelift glass elevators will replace the escalators and steps.

There will be a new toilet block and an office for the centre's manager.

The Northern Echo recently launched its Shopping for the Future Campaign after a plea from traders in Bishop Auckland to help put the region's town centres in the area back on the map.

A spokesperson for Wilkinsons said the company was looking forward to coming to the town and would back the campaign to push for regeneration and new ideas.

He said: "Wilkinsons is recognised in towns and cities across England and Wales as a retailer committed to the high street.

"We are delighted to be investing in Bishop Auckland and delighted to be providing local people with even more shopping choice in the heart of the town.

"As a family retailer we would certainly support any initiative aimed at promoting the town and city centres as thriving and vibrant places to shop.''

People from the area are being invited to apply for the jobs at the new store by either visiting the local jobs centre or looking at the firm's web site www.wilko.co.uk