FIFTY new jobs will be created when High Street fashion store New Look expands its Bolton outlet.

The firm says it will create its largest UK store in Britain in the town by adding an extra floor to the existing shop.

New Look wants to extend its current home at the Crompton Place shopping centre on to a second floor, previously occupied by C&A, to add new menswear and footwear departments.

The size of the store will almost double to 24,000 sq ft.

The store, in Mealhouse Lane, will close for a week on March 11 for the conversion.

Mark Rycraft, Crompton Place Centre Manager, said: "This is really good news for Bolton.

"New Look is a very popular trader and we are very excited about it extending the already successful store. It is a feather in the cap for the town that this will be the company's largest store."

New Look has 550 stores across the UK and Ireland. It opened in the Bolton five years ago after C&A closed.

A spokesman for New Look said: "This was an ideal opportunity for us in terms of the size of the store and customer demand."

The move is another jobs boost for Bolton.

Sports firm JJB will create 30 jobs at its new Burnden gym and sports shop.

Discount store TJ Hughes, Next and DIY chain Wickes have confirmed they will open branches at the Sainsbury's site in Trinity Street, creating about 100 jobs.

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

Marks & Spencer's will create 100 new jobs at its Midlebrook store.

Leader of Bolton Council Cllr Barbara Ronson said the jobs were a timely boost for the town.

Cllr Ronson said: "I welcome this because recently we have had a rise in our unemployment figures and it looks as though this will go some way to addressing this."

The most recent employment statistics show that there were 4,280 people out of work in the town in November - an increase of 0.5 per cent on the previous month, and a rise of 0.2 per cent on the same period in 2004.