A NEW Costa store for Westhoughton has been approved by planning officers.

The coffee shop will open in the former Westhoughton Police Post, in Marsden Street, after it was granted permission by Bolton Council.

The Police Post was closed down and moved into a room inside Westhoughton Town Hall last year.

It is the first chain coffee shop to open in the town, and is expected to employ eight to 10 full-time staff and will be open Monday to Sunday from 7am to 9pm.

The premises will cater for 135 seated customers and there is also a planned extension creating further seating space.

Westhoughton town councillor David Wilkinson said: “It is great news that this empty unit will be filled, new jobs will be created and people will have another place to meet up socially.”

Councillor David Chadwick also welcomed the town’s new addition.

He added: “Costa is a big name coffee shop and I hope that it brings more business and footfall in to the town.”