B&M Homestore is opening a second store in Carlisle, that will focus mainly on selling paint, soft furnishings, homeware and gardening goods.
The 30,000sq ft former Focus DIY premises, that has been empty for nearly six years, is due to open on October 25 at the St Nicholas Gate Retail Park in the city. The retailer will also sell a basic range of everyday products, like toiletries and essential groceries.

B&M's original store, in the city centre, will remain open and it will be unaffected while work is carried out to get the new unit ready. It is said the new store will create around 60 jobs in the city.

B&M operations director Carl Allen said: "We have been waiting for a second opportunity in Carlisle for three years and are delighted to have secured this site.

"What is amazing about our growth is that is has been secured just through word of mouth. The secret to this is very simple - we sell branded product at discounted prices. The shopping public are obviously voting with their feet," he added.

B&M now has 350 stores across the country, compared to only 20 stores six years ago. In the last three years, the company has been opening an average of one new store every week. It employs 13,000 people and attracts around 2.5 million shoppers each week, making it one of the UK's largest retailers.

Asda occupies one of the largest units on the St Nicholas Gate Retail Park and Carpetright also has a store there.