ONE of the country's major retailers is demonstrating its commitment to Bishop Auckland by giving its town centre store a facelift.

High street chemist Boots is transforming its Newgate Street premises with a multi-thousand pound refit over two weeks at the beginning of next month.

Work will go on round the clock and the store will be closed for two days on Monday, May 5 and Tuesday, May 6, although its medicines dispensing service will continue.

Boots, which employs 30 people, is one of dozens of Bishop Auckland businesses backing a Shopping for A Future campaign launched by The Northern Echo and the Bishop Auckland Chamber of Trade.

Boots manager Jill Nimmo said: "The Bishop Auckland store is very successful and this major refit shows our confidence in the town.

"There is a great commitment to Bishop Auckland, otherwise we would not be doing this.

"The store had to meet a lot of criteria to get the refit and it underlines that we are here to stay.

"It will also be a lot nicer for our staff and customers."

The refit includes the installation of a state-of-the-art carousel for storing and dispensing drugs.

Boots has already updated 240 of its 1400 stores around the country and another 300 will be modernised over the next 12 months.

The company's announcement is the second boost for Bishop Auckland's fortunes over the past few days.

It follows last week's confirmation from homes and gardens chain Wilkinsons that it will be moving into the town centre later this year.

Wilkinsons will take over the former Asda supermarket, in the Newgate Centre, in August, creating 80 jobs.

The Asda chain has invested £2m in updating the Newgate Centre.

It has replaced the escalators with glass elevators, installed a new toilet block and provided an office for the centre manager.

A further £143,000 has been spent on creating more space at the town's Co-op store, which has added a new clothing range and 24 seats to its restaurant.