Newtown Laura Ashley expansion hopes

Home furnishings and fashion giant Laura Ashley is planning to expand its presence in Newtown by moving to a bigger site, it has been revealed.

Bosses are looking for a more suitable site as the shop in Bear Lanes shopping centre is too small.

Clive Barrett, operations director for Laura Ashley, said the firm had no intention of leaving the town and said an expansion was on the cards.

But he said it was too early to say if and how many jobs would be created.

The news has been welcomed by councillors who are pleased the company is staying in the town.

Mr Barrett said: "Our lease on the shop in Bear Lanes will expire later this year and we are hoping to move into a big premises within the town so we can house more stock."

He said bosses were looking at plans to relocate the shop to an existing company site in the town at the Vastre Industrial Estate, which could accommodate the shop.