AN independent Worcester company is defying the economic downturn and expanding.

Thompsons Discount Electrical will open a new shop in the Shambles, Worcester, later this month.

The family-run firm is moving out of Market Hall and into the larger premises, which have been empty since furnishings store Rosebys closed down six months ago.

The CrownGate branch will continue to trade, while the warehouse in Wyld’s Lane will carry on shipping goods worldwide.

“We’ve outgrown the Market Hall unit,” said co-owner Carl Thompson, who took over the day-to-day running of the business more than two years ago.

“We’re staying local, just moving to a bigger store.”

Thompsons, which sells a range of electrical equipment at discount rates, employs 47 people from the Worcestershire area.

Mr Thompson has vowed to back your Worcester News’s Buy Local campaign, which is supporting independent business and promoting local produce.

He said: “We tend to find people come to us because we are local and independent.

“We are cheaper than the big stores and that is important these days.

“If you don’t support local shops you’d end up with the same high street in every town in every country.

“The independents offer something different.”