THE future of a former stationers' shop in Darlington might not be decided until next year, it emerged last night.

Fashion chain Next said it had no plans to move into the former Dressers store in High Row before the end of the year, despite being the leading contender for the vacant unit.

The news came only days after a former managing director of Dressers had expressed his disappointment at the lengthy wait for the store to be reopened.

The company shut its stores in Darlington and Northallerton just over two years ago.

Speculation has been rife ever since about the High Row site.

While Ottakar's bookstore moved quickly into the Northallerton High Street unit, there has been no sign of the Darlington premises being reoccupied.

Next, which had declared an interest in the property as a potential new outlet, has had several discussions about a move.

But a spokeswoman said last night: "We have nothing planned there. We have a list of new openings right up to the end of the year and that is not on it."

At the latest meeting of Darlington Rotary Club, ex-managing director Peter Warrand told of his 50 years' service to Dressers.

Mr Warrand said that he, with everybody else in the town, missed the services provided and that he was frustrated at seeing no one moving into the vacant shop.

Following the closure announcement in April 2001, a host of High Street names were linked with the site.

Clothing firm Gap and Ottakar's were both rumoured to be looking into moving to the shop, but later denied the speculation.

Next is the only firm to have publicly shown an interest in the site and has been involved in talks, which are thought to be ongoing, with owners Terrace Hill.

The boarded-up building was recently condemned as an eyesore, but efforts were made to improve the external appearance while the search for a new owner continues.