A sports retailer is set to open at Wrexham’s Eagles Meadow shopping centre which is now 93 per cent occupied.

Centre manager Kevin Critchley welcomed the new store, Sports Direct, which will stand between Clinton Cards and Marks and Spencer.

The store is set to open by June and Mr Critchley said there were also ongoing talks regarding an entertainment store moving in to the store on the other side of Clinton Cards, while a hairdressing unit is in final negotiations for a unit next to Subway. A jeweller’s store is opening near the cash machines and there are also talks taking place about the empty unit next to the Orange phone store.

Mr Critchley said: “There is quite a bit going on and there has been a lot of interest shown. Out of 400,000 square feet, 93 per cent of the centre is now occupied.”

He added however: “I think we’re realistic enough to know that Eagles Meadow can’t prosper without the rest of Wrexham.

“All together we have got an offer that can compete with any town of comparable size.”

Things are also looking up in the town centre, where discount retailer QD Stores is set to open this month at the former Marks and Spencer store.

The Village Bakery shop has also relocated to the former Greenwoods shop on High Street and butcher Giles Jones has moved to to a new shop on Henblas Street.

However, the former Woolworth and Boots stores still remain empty.

Colin Jones, from the economic development department at Wrexham Council, said: “It is encouraging to see businesses moving in to better premises.

“There is no other news on the other empty stores such as Dorothy Perkins, Woolworth or Boots.”

Meanwhile a DW Fitness gym is set to open in the coming months at the former Odeon cinema on Plas Coch Retail Park.