A leading sportswear company has bought a town centre shop.

Sports World International has signed a deal on the former Harpers sports store in Colchester.

It brings an end to years of speculation about the site in Head Street.

Fire ripped through the Tudor building in September 2000 and it had to be demolished.

The shop was rebuilt but has stood empty ever since because of an insurance row.

Plans to turn it into a TGI restaurant and bar were thrown out last year.

Ewan Dodds, of estate agency Whybrow, Riches and Dodds, confirmed the shop had been sold.

He said: "It is a fantastic coup for Colchester to attract a name as big as Sports World."

No-one from the company was available for comment yesterday.