New partnerships with Braintree's largest department store will bring three major ladies' fashion retailers to the town.

And the deal, which will see Top Shop, Wallis and Dash opening in October will bring jobs back to the Quadrant department store.

The news comes after the food hall in the store in the George Yard Shopping Centre closed earlier this month.

The 15 staff affected still have a few weeks to decide whether to accept redundancy or take alternative employment within the company.

But store owner Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society, which was left with a large area of floorspace, has reached agreements with the three major ladies fashion retailers.

And they are expected to recruit local people to fill the positions the partnership will create.

A spokesman for the Co-op said the company was delighted to welcome the retailers, which would add a younger appeal to its existing fashion department.

"Usually in this type of situation we look to employ local people to fill the jobs created," he said.

"For the Braintree store we will probably need two or three full-time staff and a similar number of Saturday and part-time workers."

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