A RETAILER has gone back to its North-East roots to launch a chain of stores.

Penny Plain, which began life as a small specialist gift shop in Newcastle more than 30 years ago, is now one of the UK's leading women's wear mail order companies.

It is now looking to mirror this success in the traditional retail environment and plans to open more than 20 stores across the UK within the next three years.

The firm, which has more than 100,000 mail order clients and a turnover of in excess of £5m, has hired Newcastle-based architects Xsite Architecture to design a store look that can be used nationwide.

The first outlet will open in Gosforth High Street later this month.