HALF a million pounds is being invested into a new town centre bargains store creating 50 new jobs.

Home Bargains, on Holywell High Street, which was formally opened by the town’s mayor, Cllr Philip McGarry, has been hailed as another sign of the town’s vitality.

Cllr Peter Curtis, the county representative for Holywell Central, described the shop’s arrival as “absolutely brilliant”.

“There’s no other word to describe it,” he said. “That building has been empty for so long and to see this major store coming to our town, it’s just brilliant.”

Cllr Curtis said the town was constantly knocked with unfair comparisons to larger towns. And he said things were looking very positive with the creation of new community facilities and other previously empty shops – the old Clinton Cards and the butchers – now occupied.

“It really is a plus. We’ve got a brand new [Holywell school] campus, a brand new hospital and now this store.

“We’re a little town and it’s unfair when people make comparisons to Mold or Flint – we’ve only got one street apart from Tower Gardens – but we’ve got a lot going on.

“This reputable store has seen there’s a niche here and they’ve come. I wish them all the luck in the world and long may they remain.”