Retailer Flooring Superstore has opened seven new outlets in three weeks.

Following the permitted opening of non-essential retail on 12 April 2021, the Bishop Auckland-headquartered retailer has opened new stores in Norwich, Lincoln, Hull, Basingstoke, Orpington, Reading & Carlisle.

The investment in the new stores that opened in April amounts to more than £1m and has created 28 jobs.

Flooring Superstore is planning to open 25 stores in 2021 following the most profitable period in its history.

Flooring Superstore chief retail officer Chris Barber said: "We have been planning the recent store launches for a while and as soon as the sector got the green-light from the government to resume trading from 12 April, we were ready to open from that date.

Our strategy is built on opening in areas with large conurbations and on busy retail parks with high footfall where we can make our own contribution to the local economy in these areas.

It now means we have stores stretching from Scotland to the south coast of England and across the UK from the west of Wales to East Anglia, so there is true national coverage, and we haven't stopped yet."

Richard Percival, Carigiet Cowen & Andy Hall, Savills acted on behalf of Landlord Carlisle City Council in respect of the letting of Unit 1 at Gateway 44, Parkhouse, Carlisle to Flooring Superstore.