ONLY a year after being threatened with closure, a retailer is aiming to breathe new life into the town centre.

Peacocks is set to open a re-branded store in Regent Street on Thursday, much to the delight of its staff who were threatened with redundancy last February.

The company fell into administration, but was sold to Edinburgh Woollen Mill, saving 6,000 jobs nationally including those in Swindon.

On Saturday, its store in The Parade closed and it has moved up the road to a new site next to Poundland, breathing some life into Regent Street which has seen a number of stores close recently.

In the past year, both La Senza and Birthdays have closed and it was announced last week that HMV would also be closing its doors in the coming weeks.

The new Peacock store has secured the jobs of 15 staff as well as taking on an additional four people.

Julie Morgan, regional manager for Peacocks, said: “For myself I am really excited. It is an opportunity to see the vision of the brand.

“It is positive step in the right direction for the brand.

“In terms of size of the stores they are both the same but the investment the company has made in this store is clear to see.

“We are really excited about it opening on Thursday.”

Peacocks is planning to open around 50 new stores this year, with Swindon being the first of these.

Newly appointed managing director Tony Brown is expected to bring a breath of fresh air to the company.

Sharon Peart, store manager, said: “Since The Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group took over it has been exciting and we are looking forward to the store opening on Thursday.

“I think it is good for the staff and the feedback from customers has been positive and we have had people trying to come in already.

“We are excited for people to see the new store.”