A POUNDLAND store is set to open in Crewkerne this month as part of the company’s plan to open or relocate 75 branches.

The Crewkerne store will open on 3 Market Street in a former M&Co unit.

Precise opening dates for each of these new stores and relocations will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

The company confirmed the intention to complete the programme by December - the largest three-month growth programme in its history.

The programme covers both its existing pipeline of new stores, and the former Wilko stores it has already opened, or plans to open, as new Poundland stores.

Austin Cooke, Poundland’s managing director, said: “To open 75 stores in the space of a single quarter is nothing short of a super-human effort from every member of the Poundland team.

“To each and every one of them, I say ‘thank you’.

“But we’re working at this pace because we’re on a mission – ambitious to grow, create jobs, and serve new places by opening shops customers and communities can be proud of.”

Poundland said it continues to prioritise former Wilko colleagues for roles in Poundland and encourages them to follow posts on LinkedIn or visit www.poundlandcareers.co.uk to find details of open roles and how to apply for them.

Poundland also added that, to date, has made offers of employment to over 500 former Wilko colleagues.