Poundstretcher will open at Wolverhaampton Focus store

The popular discount retailer is to open its doors in the former Wednesfield branch of the DIY chain which collapsed 18 months ago.

The move has created 25 new jobs and company bosses say more than 400 people have applied to work at the new shop which will open on May 31.

Lesley Kelly, who currently works at the Poundstretcher in Snow Hill in Wolverhampton, will become the manager of the new branch.

She said: "It was an opportunity for the company that we didn't want to miss.

It is a good area which will have lots of new trade opportunities for us. "Work is currently being carried out to refit the store and we hope to be able to go in ourselves later this week."

She added: "We are delighted to be creating new jobs as well.

"We advertised through the jobcentres in Wolverhampton and Walsall and must of had more than 400 applications.

"It is great that we have been able to put people who are unemployed back into work.

"We are all looking forward to opening."

The Focus store on Lichfield Road was one of six outlets which closed in May 2011.

The Focus site in Stafford Street in Wolverhampton city centre has been earmarked for a £20 million supermarket which would create 300 jobs.

Plans are also being drawn up to replace the Kingswinford unit in Dudley Road with two new shops selling DIY goods and furniture, and the premises at Walsall Retail Park were taken over by B&M Bargains earlier this year.

However there are no proposals to bring the sites in Cannock and Aldridge back into use.

Focus went into administration at the beginning of May 2011 when it was announced 122 stores across the country would close, with the loss of 3,000 jobs.

Buyers were found for a further 55 stores, including the shop in Brownhills, securing 19 jobs.