A discount store which is the latest addition to the Eastgate Centre will be popular in the town, say shoppers and councillors.

Stacks Discount Store will open in the “next few days”, bosses at the shopping centre revealed.

Shoppers are delighted at another new shop opening in the shopping centre, with signs already in place at the shop.

Next announced that it would be closing in July last year, and is among a number of big names to leave the shopping centre in the last two years, including Debenhams, H&M, Topshop and Topman.

Stacks Discount Store sells a range of products, including homeware and kitchenware, at budget prices.

Davida Ademuyiwa, councillor for St Martins, said: “It’s good to see a new business coming to and opening in Basildon, and it’s nice to see the firm coming to the shopping centre too.

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“It could be the kind of shop that could thrive in this area, being a discount store, and I think it probably could well - but we do have other similar stores in the town centre.

“I do think it’s a good thing as we do need shops in the town centre and shopping centre.”

Residents also welcomed the new addition.

Jan Watt, 62, of Rectory Road, Pitsea, said: “I think it’s good to see a new business open here and also show interest in the borough and invest in it too. I think I possibly will be going to have a bit of a look around it.

“I think any new shop, business or anything like this has to be a good thing for the town. I think it should do well as everyone loves a bargain.

“It’s good to see something new and different opening. I also think it’s a good thing to see when we know how businesses and retail is struggling.”

A spokesman for the Eastgate Shopping Centre said: “We are expecting it to open in the next few days.”

The centre has been contacted for further comment on the new store.