DISCOUNT fashion retailer Matalan has said it will create more than 2,200 jobs this year through an aggressive expansion drive.

The group, which has a store in Malvern, is opening 20 new stores and re-siting five more in a move that will boost its sales space by 705,000 sq ft.

More staff are also being recruited across Matalan's distribution centres to support the store expansion programme.

Matalan wants to boost its total trading space to eight million square feet by the end of its financial year to keep ahead of its rivals.

Nine of the 20 stores planned for this year have already opened.

"We're delighted to be growing our team at Matalan," said Paul Mason, chief executive, who joined in January from supermarket chain Asda.

Matalan, based in Skelmersdale, West Lancashire, will have 166 stores open in the UK by the end of the year.

Two months ago the group reported a 30 per cent hike in full-year profits to £107m on like-for-like sales growth of 8.3 per cent.