MULTINATIONAL chemist Boots is set to cut its Bolton store in half -- in a plan which could create dozens of new town centre jobs.

The company intends to scrap its first floor premises in the Shipgates Centre and slash the number of lines it sells.

A Boots spokesman said redundancies, though, are "unlikely" as the company is opening a new health and beauty salon on the third floor of the centre in space currently occupied by a stock room.

She said the health and beauty salon will need up to 15 staff in line with similar salons across the country.

Jobs also look to be created when the first floor of the store is let to another firm. Negotiations are currently taking place to secure a tenant, believed to high-profile retailer.

And the radical changes to the centre -- owned by Boots property -- will be in place by late summer.

A spokesman for the Boots Group, which owns both the property and chemist sub-companies, said: "We consider this to be a positive move for Bolton and our aim is to make the Shipgates Centre an attractive proposition for shoppers."

She said the cost of the work due to be involved was as yet unknown but would run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.

The move follows a decision by the Nottingham management of Boots The Chemist to concentrate on the health and beauty market.

Fringe lines such as gifts, toys, cookware and kitchenware are to be scrapped and Bolton's beauty store will be one of up to 50 being created nationwide. Six are already in place, with one in Market Street, Manchester.

In recent months, Boots has been developing its Wellbeing brand which has extended to a website and television channel.

The unisex health and beauty salon will also be called Wellbeing and it will incorporate dentist, chiropody and hair removal facilities.

It will be able to take up space in the former stock room following Boots' streamlining of stock handling.

Any job losses that are caused would be by natural wastage, the spokesman said.

Karen Wheeldon, town centre manager for Bolton, said: "We understand that discussions are currently taking place but that to date no final decision has been taken. We obviously welcome any additional investment in the town centre."