BIG fashion brand H&M is coming back to a Southend shopping centre.

The chain has announced it is coming back to the Royals next month, stocking home, beauty and womenswear.

H&M has a store in the former Woolworths, in the High Street, but its two previous shops at the top of High Street and in the Royals Shopping Centre, closed between Christmas and New Year, 2013, as the company scaled back its Southend presence.

However, its return to the Royals has been welcomed with shopowners hoping it attracts more people there.

Laura Maxwell, store manager at Taking Shape, a plus-size ladies fashion store in the centre, said: “I think it is fantastic.

“We have been here for the past year and it has been great to be here, but we to tend to see a smaller number of people in this side of the centre.

“So with it opening up, it could be massive for us.

“It’s nothing but good news.

“There are lots of people who don’t knowwe’re here, so if they come in because of H&M and see us, then that’s great.

“Because we are plus-size as well, then anyone who finds they can’t shop in H&M can always pop next door to us.”

In late 2013, when the previous stores closed, the company claimed it was to “create one Southend H&M shopping destination, making it easier and a more convenient shopping experience for our customers”.

The Echo asked H&M what had changed in its attitude to the town, but the company did not respond.

A spokesman for the company simply said: “The store will be opening in October.”