Chelmsford's W H Smith store is to move from its present location in the High Chelmer shopping centre to Chelmsford High Street.

The news, magazine and book retailer confirmed yesterday (Thursday) it is to take up space in the re-developed former Bolingbroke and Wenley site, between fashion retailer H&M and Ottakars bookshop.

A company spokeswoman said, "We can confirm that we are moving to alternative premises in Chelmsford High Street.

"It will be a larger store of 12,000 square feet which will make our ranges much bigger than our current store."

The company said it was unable to predict the exact moving date but it would take place when the new premises were ready. W H Smith expects to recruit extra staff in the run up to Christmas but the spokeswoman said she could not give details about the possible number of extra permanent jobs in the new store.

Overall profits for W H Smith have taken a fall, despite a 13 per cent rise in net profits from its shops in the UK.

The latest figures have revealed that the company has had an eight per cent drop in pre-tax profits to £130m..

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