A new toy shop has opened its doors in Workington to become the latest addition to the booming town centre. 

The Entertainer started serving customers on Thursday morning.

Meanwhile, DW Sports is set to open in the old JJB Sports unit next month and HMV will be returning on Wednesday, September 16.

The openings are seen as a major boost for the town centre.

Dave Fletcher, town centre manager, said that the Entertainer's arrival was the start of an exciting time.

He said there would soon be no more empty units and that the opening of new stores would create a total of 50 new jobs.

He said: "There are possibilities. I'm hopefully getting another shop into the old Granite shop next to Next and Costa by September.

"The Entertainer opening is brilliant and with HMV still going ahead, it's all good news. It will be a great boost and it will mean we'll have everything on site so people won't have to travel so far at Christmas. Things are really looking up."

The shop has taken over the empty unit on Risman Place and staff have spent the week stocking the shelves.

Kirsty Davies, store manager, said: "It's excellent timing to open now. The grand opening is over the Bank Holiday and we will be busy until Christmas."

Nine new jobs have been created at the chain including part-time, full-time and management positions and the company are also likely to be recruiting Christmas staff.

The site where the shop has opened had been empty, and plans to open a Chinese restaurant there were abandoned in 2009.

The Workington branch is the second  in Cumbria following the opening of an outlet in Carlisle last year.

Kirsty added: "I feel really proud to be here. It has been hard work, but there's never been a dull moment."