A NATIONAL retail chain will open its second-largest UK store in Hampshire next month, creating 150 jobs.

Final preparations are being done at the Next superstore in Hedge End, which is only a fortnight away from opening.

It will stand at 60,000 sq ft, with two floors.

Originally planned to be a smaller home store on the opposite retail park, the retailer instead built the new £12m store over the road.

The store will offer a range of different departments, including clothing, homeware, decorating, DIY, as well as a garden centre, a bed shop, a lingerie room and shoe rooms.

It will also have a Costa Coffee cafe.

The store, at Wildern Mill, in Charles Watts Way, will employ 185 people, but some of these positions will be filled by people within the company working at other local stores.

Midas Group, which provides construction and property services across the south-west, designed and built the store and did the internal fit-out.

About 120 construction workers were involved during the 14-month project.

Crushed materials from the demolition of the old Wildern Mill buildings on the site have also been used in part of the construction to ensure that building materials are reused and recycled wherever possible.

To celebrate the opening the store will have a sleep expert to help answer your questions on how to get a good night’s sleep and to provide some helpful hints and tips.

Staff will open the doors on Thursday, August 7, at 10am.

Customers will be able to win prizes throughout the day.

Store manager Sean Hosey said: “This new concept store will be an amazing visual shopping experience for everyone.

“We have an amazing team who are all very proud to be part of what will not only be one of the largest stores within the company, but also a pleasure to shop in.”