BUSINESS leaders have welcomed an established clothing chain opening a store in Lyme Regis.

Fat Face have taken over the vacant HSBC site along Broad Street, and hope to open to the public next month.

The business, which already has a shop in Bridport, will create between eight and ten new jobs in the town.

The new store will retain some of the original features of the HSBC banking hall - adding some Fat Face finishes to the premises.

Fat Face acquisition manager Rob Moore said: "Fat Face have been looking for suitable premises in this excellent market for some time now.

"We are delighted that we have landed such an attractive building in a great location."

Chairman of the Lyme Regis Business Group Tony Colston has welcomed the new arrival on Broad Street, hoping it will raise the profile of the town.

"You certainly don't want empty shops along Broad Street - so it's certainly a positive move" he said.

"The fact that it is a national chain is good as well. They do a lot of their own marketing - so it is good for the town and it will hopefully raise our profile and help put us on the map.

"It's good to have a shop opening that is going to appeal to young people too. It's the sort of place that people will travel to visit, and the fact they are creating jobs in the town can only be a good thing."

Mr Colston is not worried that independent traders in Lyme Regis will suffer with a national brand setting up a shop.

"I don't think other businesses will be too concerned" he said. "Obviously, what you don't want to do is lose the independent businesses, which give Broad Street its character.

"If we started to get five or six national chains coming in, there probably would be concerns - but Fat Face opening will be welcomed."

Last week, West Dorset District Council approved a planning application for Fat Face to erect new signage at the site.

Fat Face hope to open the store during the middle of April - ten months after the HSBC branch closed. A bank had operated at the Broad Street site since the 1920s, but was closed after customer usage in the town dropped dramatically.