HIGH street chain store Littlewoods confirmed yesterday that it would be taking over a prime unit in the Cornmill centre in Darlington.

Months of uncertainty over who would move into the C&A two-tier store when it finally closes on January 20 have come to an end as Littlewoods told the D&S Times yesterday it expected to open a new store by next spring.

Miss Samantha Rushton, media relations manager for Littlewoods, said: "We have bought six new stores across the country and Darlington offers us a great opportunity for success.

"When C&A move out in January we will refurbish the store immediately and hope to be open as soon as March."

Cornmill managers would not release any further information yesterday.

A few years ago, Littlewoods sold a lot of their high street stores to Marks & Spencer as trading hit an all-time low.

But with an increase in profits from £17m to £20m in the last financial year, the company believes it is time to buy back in.

Miss Rushton added; "Our stores are doing very well now and the North is a stronghold for us. I am sure the new stores in Leeds, Carlisle and Darlington will be very successful.

The future of the 25 C&A employees will be one of the topics under discussion when the two companies finalise details shortly.

Earlier this year Liverpool-based discount department store T J Hughes expressed an interest in the site but was unable to agree terms with the centre's management