THE former Woolworths store in Swanage will be brought back to life by an expanding town business.

Nixons Hardware has confirmed it will be moving into the Station Road unit from its Mermond Place shop.

Owner Derek Hancock said: “Hopefully, we will be able to display our homeware a bit better than at the moment and add a few more lines.

“We have been looking for a couple of years to expand, as we’ve outgrown our present shop.

“Since the demise of Woolworths our trade has gone up as well.”

He said the former Woolworths unit, vacant since the chain went bust at the end of 2008, was three times the size of the current store.

“Hopefully, our turnover will increase and we can also give a better service to our customers and keep more lines in stock rather than ordering things in,” added Mr Nixon.

The business has existed since 1990 and Mr Hancock bought it in 2000.

As well as moving premises, the shop will also have a name change to Nixons Home Hardware, with the hope of opening up in mid-May.

Bob McGhee, of Swanage Chamber of Trade, said: “It’s good to see it being used and a business in the town growing nicely that will benefit the town.”

The move from Mermond Place will leave an empty unit, but Mr McGhee was confident it would not be vacant for long.

He added: “In spite of it being tucked round the corner, it’s got a good footfall and some businesses around the town are looking for reasonably priced, more central locations.”

Another change is also afoot in Station Road, with the Somerfield store due to convert into a Budgens in June.

The move comes after the Co-op, which also has a Swanage shop, bought out Somerfield last year.