THERE was good news for shoppers in Newton Abbot this week as it was revealed the Bonmarché store will remain open.

Shoppers in Newton Abbot have been holding their breath ever since the closing down signs went in up in the Bonmarché store in Market Walk.

The Newton Abbot store is a busy one and it would have left a large hole in this ladieswear sector if it had closed.

Following months of speculation, Bonmarché has been sold to Peacocks, the fashion retailer, owned by Philip Day’s investment firm Spectre Holdings.

The store manager confirmed that the Bonmarché branch in Market Walk, Newton Abbot, is safe.

A clearance sale is still in operation as old stocks are wound down, but new seasons stock is arriving and the store manager and team are looking forward to welcoming regular and new customers to the store.

Sally Henley, town development manager, said: ‘I was so pleased to hear the good news when I visited the store recently. Bonmarché is very popular and shoppers have been upset at the thought of losing the store.

‘It’s also brilliant news for the staff, who have had to live through some very uncertain months.’