A MOBILE phone giant is set to move into a large town centre outlet.

A MOBILE phone giant is set to move into a large town centre outlet.

Orange has agreed to take over the former Officer's Club shop in Weston's Sovereign Shopping Centre.

The fashion chain shut its outlet in the resort after it fell into financial difficulties in January.

The company was taken over but shops across the country were earmarked for closure, including the Weston one.

Now, following an effort to fill empty units, shopping centre bosses have announced a new letting to mobile phone company Orange.

The shop is expected to be kitted out this week and is due to start trading within three weeks.

Shopping centre manager Nick Cooke: "This is a great agreement with a blue chip retailer in what is undeniably a very difficult letting market.

"The deal agreed fully meets our rental expectations and once again proves that Weston can attract quality retailer operators."

In the past two months several shopping centre outlets have been forced to shut their doors, including Adams and Whittards.

Barratts Shoes was the latest casualty to the current financial crisis, falling into administration in January.

Company Deloitte had been appointed to deal with the situation and find a way to save the company. But it shut the doors of its Sovereign Shopping Centre outlet about two weeks ago.

Mr Cooke says there are no definite decisions on the occupation of other empty units, but that negotiations are ongoing all the time.

He also says he is not aware that anyone has made a move to take over the former Woolworths High Street store.