A SUPERPOUND Discount Store could be up and running in Evesham's Port Street in July now the lease is shortly to be transferred from Kwik Save.

Managing director of All Seasons UK, Peter Singh hoped to send contractors in to start work on the store in February, but because of negotiation difficulties his plans were delayed.

Now if all goes well, work could start on refurbishment within weeks. Mr Singh said: "Things have gone very slowly and at times I have thought of pulling out, but now they are moving more rapidly. I am pretty confident that the business will be successfully concluded soon."

Property manager for Somerfield/Kwik Save, Christian Gregory said: "We have been trying to transfer our lease for some time now, and were beginning to think Freshwater, our landlord, did not want to change the status quo.

"We were doing everything we could to clinch the deal as we have been paying tens of thousands of pounds a year in rent and getting no return from it."

Since Kwik Save relocated from Port Street to Evesham's High Street, the vacated building has become a run-down eyesore. Wychavon District Council was so concerned about the effect it is having on the regeneration of Bengeworth that grants were earmarked to give the outside a face lift.