Discount clothes retailer Primark has announced that it is to create new retail jobs in Spain and the UK with the opening of new stores.

In a pre-close period trading update, the firm’s parent company, Associated British Foods, said that it expects to open six stores in the second half of the year, three in Spain and three in the UK in Chester, Bury and Blackburn. 

The firm added that it has recently agreed to acquire 10 Bhs stores which, once refitted, will open progressively during the next financial year adding some 300,000 sq ft of selling space.