Irish garden centre business Hillmount is to open its third centre later this year, a £1m development in Co. Down which will create 25 local jobs.

The Mercer family first opened a nursery in Castlereagh almost 80 years ago, and now also have a store in Bangor. The new Hillmount Garden Centre will be in the former Thriving Life Church and will feature a 55 seater restaurant called 'The Gardeners Rest.'

Said Hillmount managing director Alan Mercer: “Now is the perfect time for us to expand our business for the next generation and we are excited to be setting down roots in Ards, a town Edith has always considered to be her home shopping town having grown up in Greyabbey.

"The building has such a beautiful perspective and we know Hillmount Ards will bloom with an amazing team helping us.

We are committed to investing in the local area and to offering local jobs to local people, as well as providing the community in Ards the same great value and great choice that our loyal customers enjoy at our sister garden centres in Bangor and Castlereagh."