THE opening of a TJ Hughes department store in Derby is creating more than 100 jobs for local people.

A £1m refurbishment of the former Woolworths site in Westfield is well under way ahead of the discount store's opening on September 22.

Ninety people lost their jobs when Woolworths ceased trading at the site in January – but six of these employees have now secured roles with TJ Hughes.

Chris McKeown, sales director for TJ Hughes, said 98% of the store's workforce had been recruited from the Derby area.

He added that the firm, based in Liverpool, was pleased to be opening a branch at Derby's Westfield shopping complex.

"We are delighted to confirm we are opening a new store in September," he said.

"We are spending more than £1m on the refit and modernisation of the store and I'm sure it's going to look great."

The 20,000 sq ft store is in a prime location in Derby city centre at the front of the Westfield centre.

It will offer customers discounted prices on many brands including Dyson, Kenwood, Sanyo, Panasonic, Vax, CK, Trespass, Samsung and Silentnight.

Mr McKeown said he was confident the store would thrive despite the economic downturn.

He said: "We are certain the people of Derby will enjoy shopping at TJ Hughes.

"We are the UK's only discount department store, with a wide range of products across home, textiles, beauty and fragrance, menswear, lingerie, toys and electrical."

Jonathan Guest, city council director of regeneration and communities, said: "TJ Hughes is a well-known brand in the retail world and has been growing for some time.

"When it opens, it will fill a little niche in the city that hasn't been filled for some time."

Derby will be the retailers' 50th department store in the UK, having been founded in Liverpool in 1912 by Thomas Hughes.

In 2000, TJ Hughes was acquired by JJB Sports for £42m, ahead of a £56m buyout backed by PPM Capital two years later.

The retailer's gross profits soared from £3.6m in 2003 to £12m in 2006.