A long standing discount shop has opened in a new location to take advantage of bigger premises to offer a wider range of goods.

The Diss Discount shop had occupied the site opposite the mere in Mere Street, but is in the process of moving to the former Stead and Simpson shoe shop towards the Market Place end of the town centre.

The relocation took place yesterday and the shop's proprietor Gary James said it would enable the retailer to offer an expanded range of goods.

He said: 'It is a slightly better location – it is slightly more central in the town centre – but we are making the move more predominantly for the size; it is a better looking shop.'

He added that there would also be a larger storage room for the store's products, which include household and electrical items.

'Over the years, we have been expanding and expanding and we have been looking for larger premises and the right premises has now turned up, so this shop will be a lot larger and a lot better,' Mr James said.

The discount store had operated out of its mere location for 10 years, but has since outgrown the premises and Mr James said there had been interest from the retail sector in taking on the mere location.

The Stead and Simpson shop closed on February 22 with the loss of five jobs. The national retailer, which had 220 shops across the country, went into administration in 2008, but was bought by the Shoe Zone Group.

The Diss shop was due to close in the summer of 2012, citing rising costs and poor performance, but remained open.

Which retailer would you like to see take over the Diss Discount store? Email dominic.bareham2@archant.co.uk