PLANS are being drawn up for the former Xceptions store in Blackburn after store TJ Hughes announced it is to move to the town and create more than 100 jobs. The Liverpool-based discount chain, which has an outlet in Preston and a more recent site in Burnley, is set to open on the corner of Church Street and Ainsworth Street in April.

It will be one of the largest in the TJ Hughes group. The two-storey 40,000 sq ft store will sell clothing, fashion accessories, cosmetics and fragrances, household goods and toys.

The Blackburn store will be the first in the chain to incorporate an audio and television department.

TJ's managing director George Foster, who has been negotiating for the disused premises for six months, said: "We are more than pleased to have such a cracking location in such an attractive and prestigious shopping centre - and the size of our store will reflect this."

He added: "We will be completely refurbish the premises but everything is still in the planning stages at the moment."

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