TOWN centre shopping is set to receive a boost with the opening of three new fashion stores.

Footwear fashion outlet The Original Shoe Company is currently fitting out the former Pizza Hut restaurant on Market Street.

Meanwhile, chain stores La Senza and Republic have taken units in the Market Place.

The Original Shoe Company, based in Ayrshire, Scotland, operates dozens of stores across the UK specialising in mens and ladies clothing and footwear for all occasions.

It is taking over the Pizza Hut outlet following the restaurant's move to a retail park in Tonge Moor.

Popular lingerie outlet La Senza has already moved into the Market Place, occupying a unit next to Debenhams on the lower floor.

The store, which also has an outlet in the Trafford Centre, boasts a huge selection of ladies' underwear and nightwear.

High-fashion store Republic has also moved into the mall, with its first Bolton shop set to open tomorrow.

The store boasts an impressive range of fashion labels, such as Diesel, Bench, Boxfresh and Hooch.

It also stocks several labels which have not been sold in Bolton before.

Town centre manager Cathy Savage said: "This is fantastic news for the town centre. Particularly with La Senza and Republic, which will bring a lot more designer names into the town.

"Hopefully this increase in choice will steer some people towards shopping more in Bolton rather than leaving the town for other destinations.

"We want this trend of more recognised stores coming to Bolton to continue, so that we can offer a shopping experience to rival other major locations in the North-west."

The new arrivals are the latest in a long line of developments in the town centre, such as the planned revamp of the Market Hall, which look set to transform Bolton into one of the North-west's shopping capitals.