A shop that sells colourful clothes and home products inspired by British country lifestyles is coming to Carlisle.

Joules has submitted plans for a shop on English Street, creating four full-time jobs.

The firm, which has 97 stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland, will take over the former Hotter shoes unit.

It has applied to Carlisle City Council for planning permission to convert the building and put up its signature yellow and blue sign.

It currently has branches in Keswick, Bowness, Ambleside and Kendal.

It can also be found in some major UK retailers such as John Lewis.

The business, founded in 1989 by Tom Joule, has its headquarters in Market Harborough in Leicestershire but also has a branch in New York.

A spokeswoman for Joules said in its application to the council: "We are proposing to install a new timber shopfront with ramped threshold.

"The double entrance doors will be open during trading hours as Joules operate an open door policy. This allows ease of access for all into the store."

The staff room and stock room will be located on the first floor of the building.

Meanwhile, the Patisserie Valerie cake and cafe chain is taking over the Ryman unit in The Lanes Shopping Centre.

The stationery firm will leave its location next month to make way for the continental cake shop. It will close on Wednesday, March 7.

And this week Hotel Chocolat confirmed it plans to open its first shop in the city in April.

A spokeswoman said it was looking to open a cafe-shop, which would also offer ice cream.

David Jackson, commercial director of The Lanes, said: "Patisserie Valerie, Hotel Chocolat and Joules are all good names to have in a city.

"They come in and other businesses see that and start to look at Carlisle in a different light."

Patisserie Valerie hopes to create between 15 and 20 jobs when it opens in May.

The first Patisserie Valerie was opened in 1926 by Madame Valerie on Frith Street in London’s Soho.