POUNDLAND is bringing a bargain fashion and homeware store to the high street in time for Christmas.

The retailer is transforming its Fulton Foods branch into a PEP&CO store.

The transformation of the store is part of wider plans by the bargain retailer to open similar stores across the country ahead of Christmas.

Currently, the Westhoughton Pavillion Square branch is known for its chilled and frozen foods.

Poundland retail and transformation director Austin Cooke said: “Today’s announcement is another example of the way we’re transforming the customer offer in our stores.

“And becoming the best Poundland we can be for our shoppers, is what motivates us to move at an amazing pace.

“We’re proud that this transformation programme, extending chilled andd frozen foods, clothing and homewares is helping support town centres and high streets at a time they need it most.”

As well as the Westhoughton branch, Poundland will be converting three Fultons stores around the country into PEP&CO stores, while a further five will be transformed into full Poundland outlets.

Alongside Westhoughton, the other two new PEP&Cos will be found in Leeds and Sheffield, while the five to become Poundlands are in Batley, Brighouse, Colne, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

This follows a similar already completed scheme to convert Poundland stores in Corporation Street, Birmingham, and Hertford Street, Coventry, to PEP&COs.

The announcement comes as the company rolls out the next phase a long term project aimed at extending its chilled and frozen range to more stores across the UK.

This will also include repurposing Fulton Foods stores when they are already in close proximity to Poundland branches as is the case with Westhoughton.

Known as the Diamond ICE project, the plan has been made possible due to Poundland’s takeover of Fulton Foods in 2020.