HOME furnishings and household store, The Range, has said it is still hoping to open its store in Skipton by the end of the year.

The company applied to the district council for permission for a change of use of the former Skipton Ford site, in Airedale Business Park, in December, but the application is still undecided.

However, the firm has reaffirmed its desire to open a store on the outskirts of town despite coronavirus restrictions causing a delay.

A spokesman told the Herald: "We can confirm that we are planning to open a new store in Skipton on Millennium Road later this year.

"At present we do not have an opening date confirmed for the store but we will let you know any updates as soon as we get them."

The store hopes to employ the equivalent of 85 full-time positions when it is up and running fully.

Total gross new internal floor space is expected to be 4,770 square metres, including a cafe area covering 212 square metres.

The Range currently has 160 stores in the UK and Ireland and is the trading name of CDS (Superstores International) Ltd.