Discount chain B&M has announced when its new Basildon store will officially open as it brings 60 jobs to the town centre.

Work has been ongoing for a number of months at the new store, which is taking over the former BHS building.

BHS fell into administration last April with its doors in Basildon closing just three months later in July.

It has stood empty ever since.

The self-labelled discount store has more than 500 high street locations in the UK and sells a wide variety of branded products at lower prices than that of typical superstores.

B&M will be opening to customers on Thursday, February 22 at 9am.

A spokesman for B&M said: “We’re really excited to be opening a brand new store in Basildon and we hope customers are going to be delighted with it.

“We’ve just got the keys so the team are currently working hard to transform the site so we can get the doors open and welcome new customers through the door in a few weeks.”

More than 60 jobs, from managers to sales assistants, will be created for local people.

Andrew Buxton, Labour councillor for St Martin’s ward, believes B&M can only be positive for the town.

He said: “It’s good news for Basildon people.

“They’re a big organisation that opens large shops so the amount of jobs that will be created is really good.”

Mr Buxton believes that the new store is just the start of a fresh era for the town. He said: “It’s a really exciting time for Basildon.

“We’re hoping that with the new market and new cinema, other businesses will be encouraged to join as well.”

With B&M’s nearest stores currently at Lakeside and Southend, he says that the new site is one step in giving local people the incentive to remain in town.

He added: “Before Christmas the town was buzzing so with this new store and other developments we want to keep Basildon people in the area.”

B&M saw strong sales figures for the past three months, with sales surging almost 13 per cent to £837.3m before Christmas. The chain opened 19 new shops in the 13 weeks to 23 December.

UK like-for-like sales, which exclude sales from new stores, rose 3.9 per cent in the period, while overall group sales were up by 22.7 per cent.