Wilko shops set to return to the High Street before Christmas

Wilko will return to the High Street, with the brand's new owner opening up to five shops before Christmas.

The owner of the Range, which also bought Wilko's website after its collapse, will launch the first two Wilko shops in Plymouth and Exeter.

Its boss said that "it's clear that there's a huge love for Wilko".

Wilko collapsed in early August, leading to thousands of job losses and the closure of its 408 UK stores, many of them in traditional town centres,

CDS Superstores, which owns The Range, said ex-Wilko staff would be given priority in the recruitment process for the new shops.

Its chief executive Alex Simpkin said: "The public reaction to the loss of Wilko stores was undeniable.

"That's why we've taken the decision to reintroduce Wilko back to many of the High Streets and communities that it used to so proudly serve."

It's aiming to opening up to five shops before Christmas, with two leases signed already for High Street locations in Devon.

They will be "concept" stores, follows by two locations in the South-East of England and one in the North of England, which are expected to be announced soon.

For the first time, it is also planning to open Wilko-branded shops in Northern Ireland.