A SOUTH Essex town is bucking the recession with new businesses opening and others moving to larger premises.

The centre of RayLeigh is staging a strong recovery after a spate of closures in the past few years left many shops closed and boarded up or turned over to charities.

Now, at least three new stores are planning to open in the town centre and two others have expanded after outgrowing their premises.

Italian restaurant chain Ask is also poised to take over the former Woolworths+wycombe">Woolworths store in the High Street.

Soft furnishing and gifts shop, Feathering Your Nest, has moved from Berrys Arcade to a larger unit at Manns Corner which was formerly a sports shop.

Manager Emma Ryder said: “It’s a great deal better for us, as we can display more goods. There is more space and more people are noticing us.”

Rayleigh Fruit and Veg is the only independent greengrocers in the town centre and has seen business boom since it opened in Berrys Arcade three years ago.

It has now moved to the former Feathering Your Nest shop, which is much larger.

Boss Tom Nevill said: “We are delighted because people can see all we have on offer and move in more comfort. We have been open for three years. After a few months, we realised we needed more space.

“Taking over this shop, which used to be a greengrocers years ago, has been great for us.”

Trendy Leigh Broadway menswear shop Zinc is also opening soon at the other end of the High Street.

Carl Watson, Rayleigh Chamber of Trade chairman, said: “It does seem we are bucking the gloom with new and expanding businesses.

“A builders’ merchants at the other end of the High Street has reopened and a specialist toy shop and children’s shoe shop are also coming to vacant shops. These businesses are good news for Rayleigh because they help the vitality of the town centre.”