REST easy! That is the message from a top boss of the New Look fashion chain to staff and customers of two stores in York, who fear they might have to shut to make way for a bigger new branch in the city.

Carl McPhail, managing director in charge of marketing operations of the fashion store in the UK and abroad, assured them that the arrival on March 1 of a New Look on the site of the Littlewoods store in Piccadilly was unlikely to affect the existing stores or their future.

Far from closing, New Look was likely to generate a further 45 jobs, he said.

He was correcting an impression put out by a store spokesman last week that no decisions had yet been taken about the future of the two existing stores in Blake Street and Monks Cross Shopping Park.

Talking from Paris, Mr McPhail said: "They can absolutely rest easy. Our whole intention behind agreeing to use 34 Littlewoods stores of the 120 acquired by Associated British Foods, was to further grow our business. The object is not to close, but to expand.

"Nationally, we control 1.9 million sq ft, the combined floor space of our Littlewoods sites will give us an extra 600,000 sq ft and our ultimate UK target is five million sq ft. We see a big demand for our products in York."

The Parliament Street branch would attract 45 jobs on top of the 35 in Blake Street and 40 at Monks Cross, he said.

But he could give no assurance to the 25 Littlewoods staff at York who lost their jobs that they would be specifically hired. "Our deal with ABF was to acquire the space, but not necessarily the employees.

"As with any new store opening it will be seen as an opportunity for existing staff to move if they want and then any hiring we do will be of anyone who has the necessary skills and experience, and I am sure this will apply to some of the Littlewoods people."

Updated: 10:22 Tuesday, January 17, 2006