SUPERMARKET giant Morrisons and fast food firm Domino’s Pizza are set to open new stores in Blackburn in the ‘next few weeks’.

Builders are nearing completion on the site of the former Royal Infirmary Hospital, in Bolton Road, where the Morrison’s local M store, and Domino’s will open their doors.

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Head of regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen Council, Coun Maureen Bateson, said: “It’s an important site with all the new housing and with the extra care home that will go on there, so that site will be regenerated.

“It has been an eyesore for some time and it’s good something is being done there, and it’s also bringing jobs to the area.”

She continued: “We are working extremely hard with developers and others to attract people in.

“We have gone through a very difficult recession, and it’s been a very hard time, but it still requires a lot of hard work from the council.

“People are now showing a real interest in Blackburn with Darwen.”

The Lancashire Telegraph reported on Wednesday how soft furnishing chain Dunelm will open its first store in the town before Christmas.

And independent music retailer Head, footwear brand tReds and perfume specialist Equivalenza will all open in The Mall in the next few weeks, bringing the shopping centre’s vacancy rate to below five per cent— the lowest for two years.

The town’s Labour MP, Jack Straw said: “It shows big store chains are increasingly confident in the future of a redeveloped Blackburn town centre.”

Blackburn is Open boss and international designer Wayne Hemingway added: “This is clearly good news.

“It is another step in our plans to build a vibrant 24-hour town centre.”