THE Gate House Store in Sankey Street, Warrington, is being sold. Out of town shopping has been blamed on the fact that the store has not done as well as expected.

But future owners T.J. Hughes of Liverpool are confident that they will succeed in the town.

Staff employed by Gate House will be kept on, and 20 new jobs will be created, but concessions within the store will not be continued.

Jobs will go because of this, but the people involved will be given a chance of interviews for the new jobs created.

Gate House was taken over from United Norwest Co-op by Yorkshire Co-operatives in May last year

Mr Tony Henry, chief executive, said: "We did not know the area terribly well. The fact that we have not done as well as we expected may be due to out of town shopping. That's the main problem. There is a lot of it round Warrington and it has impacted."

However Mr George Foster, chief executive of T.J. Hughes, which has 22 stores - 17 in the north west - said his company's stores were used to the competition of out of town shopping.

"We are interested only in town and city centres. If you have the retail format right, you will survive in a city centre. We are thriving. We are doing well. We employ 2,000 people and we are expanding rapidly. We are hopeful and buoyant. We have quality discount stores with top brands in fashion, fashion accessories, toiletries and household goods," said Mr Foster, naming labels such as Calvin Klein, Playtex and Pierre Cardin.

"We have been trying to get into Warrington for some time and we are delighted to get Gate House."

The deal is expected to be completed on October 31.

Mr Henry 01274 729500

Gal Shivtiel as above

store: 634432 Sue Harrop, perfumery manager.

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