TK MAXX has announced it will open in Chippenham in the New Year and is recruiting 40 staff.

The discount designer fashion and homeware retailer is to open a branch on the Bath Road Retail Park at 9am on February 19, in the unit adjacent to Next.

That will leave just one unit of the old Focus DIY store empty.

The Chamber of Commerce has welcomed the new jobs, but some councillors are disappointed they will be part-time.

Positions to be filled are sales associates required seven days a week, for contracts of between eight and 20 hours.

Desna Allen, the leader of Chippenham Town Council, said: “That is not as promising as it originally seemed. It’s very disappointing for Chippenham. I don’t think it will be a great improvement to employment prospects.

“It’s not nearly enough work for anyone to get a living wage and keep a family.”

Chris Bonsor, the president of the Chippenham Chamber of Commerce, said: “You can’t turn it down. Our preference would be for more retail nearer the town centre for its regeneration, but we wouldn’t oppose any kind of expansion increasing jobs.

“At the end of the day, it’s still in Chippenham and if it saves people from driving all that way out to somewhere else, it’s all good.”

The new 1,362 sq m (14,665 sq ft) TK Maxx store will feature more than 60,000 items for women, men and children.

Regular deliveries will bring up to 10,000 new items to the store each week.

To apply for a job, go online to www.tjxeurope.com/careers and search for job number 75849.