A CAT charity has unveiled plans to open a new superstore in Carlisle city centre.

Cat Protection, which rescues and rehomes stray, unwanted or homeless cats, will arrive later this year, taking up the vacant Freetime unit on Castle Street.

The country’s largest feline welfare charity, which also educates people about cats and cat welfare, have submitted proposals for fresh outdoor signage to the city council’s planning department.

The new store will be the first to open in Cumbria.

Currently, the charity’s nearest shops are located in Stranraer in Dumfries and Galloway, Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the north east, and Cleveleys near Blackpool in Lancashire.

All hands are on deck behind the scenes to prepare for the opening of the new superstore, which hopes to being trading in less than ten weeks time.

Area retail manager Jane Dutton told the News & Star: “The new Cats Protection charity shop in Castle Street has a provisional opening date of March 27.

“Staff and volunteers will be at the shop ready to take donations and speak to potential volunteers from the beginning of March.

“This will be a large superstore selling a range of good quality second-hand clothes, books, household goods and bric-a-brac, as well as new cat-themed gifts.

“Because of the size of the unit, it will also act as a donation centre for other Cats Protection shops in the county.”

Eventually there are plans to add furniture to its range after the superstore opens its doors to customers.

“We are extremely excited about opening this new store and we look forward to welcoming the people of Carlisle through the doors.

“Funds raised by the shop will help unwanted cats find new homes, so we hope local people see us as a cause worth supporting,” Jane added.

An application for new non-illuminated fascia signs and one hanging sign were submitted to Carlisle City Council at the end of last month.

In a statement to comment on the plans, a spokesman from Cumbria County Council’s planning applications department confirmed the highway authority had no objections to the proposal.

News of another store joining the High Street and filling a previously vacant store come after a turbulent year in retail.

The nearby Thornton’s chocolate shop, on St Albans Row, closed its doors to shoppers on Saturday, January 4.

Bosses from the confectionary chain said the closure followed a review of their store estate.

The nearest Thorntons store to Carlisle is at the Gretna Gateway Outlet Village, sited at the edge of Gretna.

Elsewhere, the fate of the city’s Game store on Scotch Street still hangs in the balance after the retailer announced last week it would close 40 outlets across the UK.