The Range has announced that it will be opening its three newest stores at the end of November, all on the same day.
On November 29, the homewares and DIY retailer will be opening a new store in Derby, in a former Focus DIY unit at the Meteor Centre. The 11,200sq ft unit has been empty since Focus left in 2011. The Range already has stores in Burton upon Trent and Nottingham.

Another store will also be opened in Bedford, in a 29,500sq ft unit, on the Interchange Retail Park. Nearby stores include Milton Keynes and Stevenage.

Finally, a third store will be opened in Southend-on-Sea on the same day. The company will move into a former 30,000sq ft B&Q store at Southend Queensway in the town. The nearest stores are in Romford and Dartford, closer to London.

The opening of these stores brings the company's total in the UK to 85. Owner, Chris Dawson, described each new store as "the perfect location", and added that they will "play an important role" in the company's expansion plans.

"We will be opening Derby, Southend and Bedford on the same day, making this date extra exciting for us as a company and creating 450 jobs in one day," said Mr Dawson. "We feel that The Range is a unique shopping experience that has something for everyone and we are confident that the people of [each town] will enjoy what The Range has to offer."

These store openings come as part of the Plymouth-based retailer's overall plan to open 45 stores in the next three years, with a move into Scotland launched with a new store in Glasgow in August.