SCHOOL shop staff are ready to move to bigger premises as it is set to close its current store this week.

Thousands of parents and schoolchildren have passed through the doors of 31 New Street looking for school uniform over the years.

It was first SchoolTogs before Monkhouse Schoolwear Specialists took over the shop four years ago.

Now, Monkhouse will be closing its doors at New Street on Thursday (November 23) ready to move to Pump Street. 

The school uniform store will be moving into the former Roman store, a women's clothing retailer, and will have a grand reopening on Friday, December 8. 

Posters have been placed in the window at the soon-to-be new Monkhouse shop and the inside can is looking bare ahead of the refurbishment work.

Lisa Southall, area operations manager, said Monkhouse staff are excited about the relocation.

She said: "Where we are heading to is just a fantastic location for us and all of our colleagues are looking forward to the move.

"Originally, we were looking at moving locations last year but the timing was not right for us.

"We let all of our schools in the area know in plenty of time and the new store will be having a total refit.

"It is all very exciting and we cannot wait to move."

Monkhouse has over eight years of experience in selling school uniform and similar goods, and describes itself on its website as "a family-run business at heart".

Monkhouse took over from Schooltogs at the New Street location four years ago selling branded school uniform along with school equipment and Scout and Guide uniform.

Pump Street is one of the city centre's busiest roads, with popular shops such as Jingo Clothing and Specsavers, and food and drink options like Coffee #1 and ShakeAway.

New businesses such as Spin the Black Circle and The Jungle Club also moved into the busy city centre road within the last year.