THE Range home furnishings store is looking at a summer opening in Skipton this year, the company has confirmed.

Covid-19 delayed plans for the conversion of the former Ford dealership on the Airedale Business Centre, in Keighley Road, but a spokesman for the firm said some refurbishment work has now started and a recent planning application for advertising signs has been lodged with the district council.

A spokesman said: "We have already started works at our new store site in Skipton. At present, due to the nature of the works, we do not have a confirmed date for the store opening but are hoping that it will be by the summer."

The store hopes to employ the equivalent of 85 full-time positions when it is up and running fully.

The total gross new internal floor space is expected to be around 4,770 square metres.

The Range currently has 184 stores in the UK and Ireland and is the trading name of CDS (Superstores International) Ltd.

Currently the nearest Range stores to Skipton and Keighley are at Bradford and Burnley.