A new value fashion chain is set to open in the former BHS at Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre.

The department store closed in August last year after the retailer was placed into administration in March but failed to find a buyer.

The unit stood empty for many months but was recently occupied by pop-up furniture store Lilac Cherry Homestores for seven weeks. It has now been announced that M&Co is moving in.

The Scottish chain sells women’s, men’s, and children’s clothes, as well as small homeware products. In 2016, on the back of its best results in five years, the retailer announced plans to open another 10 stores each year for the next five years.

Speaking last year, chief executive Andy McGeoch told Retail Week: “As M&Co’s target customer is a 40-plus year-old shopping for herself and her family, we believe that the business is ideally placed to take advantage of the demographic growth in this market.”

It has not yet been announced when M&Co will open its doors at Hempstead Valley but the process has begun to recruit staff. Part time jobs are being advertised on the shopping centres website. M&Co will be holding assessment sessions at the news store on Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

To book an appointment, candiates need to contact Dawn Neil via email on dneil@mackays.co.uk