A PRIME site on Helensburgh"s seafront is to become the latest acquisition of a family business which already has nine shops across Scotland.

Wilkies, the ladies fashion chain, is bringing their brand of business to the former Woolworths store in East Clyde Street.

Marketing and operations manager Karen Forret said: 'We have been looking for new opportunities in the West of Scotland for some time and have looked at Milngavie and Kilmarnock amongst others but Helensburgh has just the right demographic for our business.

'There is a lovely dynamic to the town. It changes at the weekend with the day trippers who will like our exceptional value lines while during the week there are more affluent customers living in the town who will appreciate our wide choice of top ranges.' She continued: 'We did a lot of research on the town and I have done quite a lot of work to understand it. I am talking to the Chamber of Commerce about how we can help and we like to work closely with other businesses to increase footfall for everyone.

'There are a lot of good things happening in Helensburgh and we are keen to learn how we can help to make a difference.

'We don"t expect our business to just happen and we work very hard to get and keep our customers.' Karen said that it is expected that all the 'legals' will be tied up and the keys handed over tomorrow (Friday) and that to begin with Wilkies will be trading on the ground floor of the former Woolworths but may at a later stage open up upstairs. They hope to open in mid-July.

The arrival of the forward-looking firm has been welcomed by many as an encouraging sign for Helensburgh"s commercial future.

Susan Mathieson, chief executive of the Chamber of Commerce, said: 'Helensburgh and Lomond Chamber of Commerce is delighted to welcome Wilkies Womenswear to Helensburgh. Wilkies will offer a new shopping experience that will attract customers and visitors to Helensburgh as well providing job opportunities. We wish them every success!' SEE THIS WEEK'S ADVERTISER FOR MORE COMMENT