Carlisle is another step closer to its long-awaited Primark store, as the company confirms the month it intends to open.

Jobs are also being advertised at the new Lanes store, which is currently being fitted out.

The high street giant - which is set to create a total of 144 jobs in Carlisle - had previously said it would open in the winter this year - but has never specified a date.

The retailer, which is taking over the former BHS store which closed earlier this year, has already appointed people to a number of management posts after advertising back in May.

Now it is looking for the rest of its workforce.

Posts being advertised include retail assistants and supervisors to work on the sales floor, as well as jobs in the stockroom, cash office, human resources and visual merchandising.

Colin Glover, council leader, said he was pleased a timescale had now been confirmed.

"October was always a target time so that they were open well in time for Christmas, but they have made good progress.

"It now looks to be a firm date," he said.

Primark says there are a mixture of full time, part time, evening and weekend opportunities.

Pay rates range from £4.73 per hour for under 18s to £7.77 for supervisors.

Applications must be submitted online by August 6. Interviews will take place on August 12 and 13 ahead of the October reopening.

The popular budget clothing firm recently signed a 25-year deal to move into Carlisle city centre, understood to be one of the company’s biggest deals in the UK.