MONTHS of speculation over which high street retailer will take over the former Asda store in Bishop Auckland ended yesterday.

Homes and gardens chain Wilkinson's has announced that it will be moving into the Newgate Centre, in Bishop Auckland, in August.

Eighty jobs will be created in the town when the 20,624 sq ft store opens.

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.

Yesterday's announcement has come as a relief to local traders, who were worried that the unit might 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."

The manager of the Wilkinson's store, Keith Short, and his assistant manager Rob Cooke, visited the site yesterday.

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

Extensive refurbishment work is still being carried out to the Newgate Centre following a £2m investment by the Asda chain.

The renovation will see glass elevators replace the escalators steps, the installation of a new lavatory block and provision of an office for the centre manager.

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

A spokesman for Wilkinson's said it was looking forward to coming to the town and would back the campaign.

People from the area are being invited to apply for the jobs at the new store by either visiting the local JobCentre or accessing the company's website at www.wilko.co.uk.