AN ITALIAN entrepreneur has stepped in to save a discount clothes centre threatened with closure.

The Designer Room, at Jacksons Landings, Hartlepool Marina, had gone into receivership after falling profits threatened its future.

With about 60 staff, the closure of the mall would have been a major blow to employment and investment in the town centre.

But Italian businessman Marino Roberto, who owns Prohibition London, has stepped in and vowed to return the shopping mall to its former glory.

After several years as a discount designer outlet, there are now plans to move it upmarket and away from end-of-range clothes.

Its present stock is made up of previous year's collections, overruns, overmakes and irregular stock. Most of it is bought through warehouses in Europe.

The 20,000sq ft mall is well-known throughout the region for its womenswear, which includes designer brands such as Versace, Calvin Klein, Jasper Conran and Ralph Lauren.

Mr Roberto, who will announce the deal later today, said he hoped to make substantial changes.

He said: "The plan is for a different outlet altogether. We want to move it upmarket after years of selling a lot of clearance stock.

"I will bring in a number of labels that people will recognise - quality products that people won't mind paying for.

"This is just what Hartlepool needs. Before, anyone wanting real quality clothes had to travel to Middlesbrough, Sunderland or Newcastle.

"Also, I plan to increase the number of menswear outlets by around 40 per cent. At the moment there is next to nothing. I hope to have this all up and running by the start of the new winter season in September."

Mr Roberto, who owns about 20 shops around the country, including one in Oxford Street and another in Bond Street, London, is also applying for a liquor licence so that he can open a bar, restaurant and cafe.

When complete, the complex should include ladies and menswear shops, as well as stores selling shoes, toys and items for the home.