GREAT Malvern town centre will get a boost when a leading Italian coffee bar chain opens next month.

Caff Nero will be serving coffee in Church Street from the end of May, replacing the YMCA charity shop, which moved out on Wednesday.

Founded in 1997, Caff Nero is currently the largest independent coffee retailer in the UK, with more than 205 stores nationwide, including ones in Birmingham and Kidderminster.

Spokesman Romina Infantino said they had chosen to invest in Malvern because "it's a lovely area, which suits the Caff Nero brand and values".

The branch will be on one floor and will seat about 50 customers. It will open seven days a week and could employ about eight local people.

The move marks a change in the way Great Malvern is viewed as a commercial centre.

In 2002, a number of Church Street shops stood empty and traders expressed great concern, with one saying the town was 'dying a death'.

Now, large chains such as The Works and Julian Graves have opened shops in the high street.

Malvern Hills District Council's town centre manager Anthony Collis said: "It's long been felt that we've got to get the basics right to attract visitors. We've got to have things for them to enjoy and a cup of coffee or tea is fundamental.

"I think Caff Nero will attract a different kind of clientele and it will certainly be a feather in our cap, or indeed the cream in our coffee, for the town."

Mr Collis added that the council was to carry out a 'spring clean' of Church Street, Church Walk and Belle Vue Island at the end of May. The paving on Church Street will be restored to its original colour and chewing gum and dirt will be removed.

Robin Elt, chairman of Great Malvern Traders' Association, said: "I'm delighted that one of the big coffee chains is coming to Malvern. It will be an additional attraction to the town.

"What I feel now is that traders, the town council and the district council will need to get together to do a concerted marketing push to bring regional tourists in. The town centre is coming good and we should promote that."

Robert Walker, a partner at estate agents Whitt, Yeates and Ridley with Humberts, said that more amenities could only be a good thing for attracting homebuyers.

"Malvern has always been a popular place to live with good links and of course, the hills, but more shops can only help to get more people into the town," he said.

YMCA manager Ruth Smith said she hoped to relocate within the town and was looking at leasing premises in Malvern Link.

"We'd like to thank all our customers for their support over the years," she said.