A FASHION company has opened a new store in Keighley's Airedale Shopping Centre, creating five jobs.

Roman's latest outlet is in addition to one it already operates within Beales.

Centre manager Steve Seymour said the opening was the latest in a series of boosts for the mall, which has seen a business boom.

"We are continuing to create jobs as we attract new businesses – such as Trespass and Peacocks – while our present ones are seeking to expand where they can," he said.

"For example, Fulton Foods recently tripled in size.

"It is all part of our commitment to improving the great range of stores we have on offer here, including Next, JD Sports, Bon Marche, Burger King and Clarks, plus a wide variety of independent traders.

"In addition Beales, which will continue to stock Roman, is one of the most respected department store chains in the UK."

Manager of the new Roman store is East Morton woman Liz Tilford.

"I am a shopper at the Airedale Centre myself so I know it very well," she said.

"I am a big fan of Roman's clothes and accessories and when I heard about the job here in Keighley I snapped it up.

"I am really looking forward to welcoming shoppers to the store."

Birmingham-based Roman first appeared on the high street 20 years ago with a string of concessions within major stores.

It now has a network of more than 100 outlets across the country.

There was more good news on the business front in Keighley this week with the opening of a branch by car buyer, webuyanycar.com.

It now has an outlet at Keighley Retail Park, in Hard Ings Road.

"We will be able to complete vehicle purchases in as little as 20 minutes from customers making online appointments or even just turning up," said spokesman Rich Evans.

"There are 212,000 privately-owned cars in the Keighley branch catchment area and according to retail sector research, at least 30 per cent will be put on the market by their owners during the next 18 months."

Mark Wright, who heads up the branch team, added: "We've been busy from the opening day and expect this to continue."

But another national company, Johnson Cleaners, has closed its Keighley branch.

The outlet is among more than a third of the dry-cleaning chain's 307 high street premises to shut.