A NATIONAL retailer set to move into Kendal next month will bring more than 35 new jobs to the area.

Matalan has announced it will move into the former Intersport unit on Kendal's Queen Katherine's Avenue industrial estate and will open on May 21.

The new store will cover the 20,000 square foot building, providing everything from ladieswear, menswear and children's wear to homeware.

Mike Jeans, Retail Director for Matalan, said: “We are thrilled to be expanding our business and opening up a store in Kendal.

MORE TOP STORIES: "The new store will not only bring employment to the area but will also provide an easy and enjoyable shopping experience for customers, offering high quality, valuable and affordable products from fashion through to homeware which we have been doing for the last 30 years.”

A spokesperson for the family-run company said some of the workers from the Intersport store, which closed earlier this month, would be kept on.

Matalan is continuing its recruitment search for the new Kendal shop which will have in all 45 sales assistants plus a management team.

And while it is good news for employment in the area, Kendal town centre received a blow this week as the high street's Thorntons store announced it was shutting up shop.

The chocolate company said in March it was in negotiations with the landlord of its Stricklandgate store and wanted to renew the lease 'if the right terms presented themselves'.

But those talks were unsuccessful and a closing date of June 1 has been set.

A spokesperson for the company said: "We will try our utmost to redeploy our staff to other Thorntons stores in the area.

"We have been delighted to serve our many Kendal customers over the years and we would love to welcome them in our Barrow-in-Furness and Carlisle stores in the future.

"Alternatively, our products are available to order online at www.thorntons.co.uk.”