UP to 100 new jobs are to be created with the opening of a new shopping centre in Bolton.

Discount store TJ Hughes, Next and DIY chain Wickes have confirmed they will open branches at the Sainsbury's development next to its supermarket on Trinity Street.

High street chemist Boots is also reported to have signed up to the trading park.

A spokeswoman for Next said the company would open a new store at the site in June selling clothing and homeware.

Around 20 jobs are set to be created with the opening of the new Next store although a spokesman said exact numbers could not be verified until nearer the date of opening.

Liverpool-based TJ Hughes is a discount department store specialising in home and fashion, fragrance and cosmetics. Property director Richard Foggin said: "We have invested more than £1.3 million in the new store, and the management here are very excited about the potential of the site."

A spokesperson for Wickes said the company would be opening a DIY store in the Spring, and would create around 40 new jobs.

The jobs boost comes in the same week that it was announced that unemployment in Bolton had risen by 0.5 per cent.

It follows an announcement that 100 jobs are to be created when Marks & Spencer opens a new store in the former Allders building at Middlebrook.

More jobs are also set to be created at the out of town shopping centre after planning bosses gave the go ahead for three new units to be built but it has not yet been revealed which companies will take them on.

The news will be greeted as a welcome boost to the local economy by many observers, but Ken Hahlo, Professor of Sociological Research and Consultancy at the University of Bolton, warned against a flood of new retail jobs. He said: "Large numbers of retail jobs might sound attractive in the short term, but the majority of them will be low-skilled, lower paid positions that can disappear as quickly as they arrive in a fickle market."