THERE is no stopping Gamestation, the Clifton Moor-based national video and computer games retailer which scooped the 2002 Evening Press Business of the Year title.

The £60 million turnover firm today announced plans to open between 70 and 100 stores during the course of this year, bringing the total number of stores to more than 140.

It confirms the continuation of the massive impetus which also earned the organisation the Evening Press Growth Business of the Year award. It underlines the fact that although the retailer was bought out in October by the U.S.-based video retail mega-giant Blockbuster, it is continuing to thrive under its own branding.

It demonstrates that there will be no slackening off for the managing director, Stephen Hall, who founded Gamestation with Julian Gladwin, aged 39, and now continues at the helm for at least a year under the new ownership.

The two men, both graduates from York University, built up their venture from a small, short-licensed Christmas shop in Gillygate, York, into the 70-outlet empire it is today.

Now stores are scheduled to open in all major towns and conurbations across the UK where Gamestation does not have an outlet.

New sites are being sought in locations as far afield as Inverness, Norwich and Exeter.

Gamestation is also looking for second sites in key retailing centres such as Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham, as well as units in suburban high streets in large cities.

Updated: 10:03 Tuesday, January 28, 2003