DRESSERS, the former stationery store - and one of the prime sites in Northallerton High Street - will open its doors as a bookshop this autumn.

Teesside property developers Terrace Hill, who bought the Northallerton property as well as Darlington premises from Dressers earlier this year, today announced completion of a lease with 75-branch national chain Ottakars Books at the Northallerton High Street store.

The 40ft frontage listed building consists of 6,300 sq ft of retail space and 1,200 sq ft of other accommodation.

Workmen have now moved on site to refurbish the property and to divide the premises into two units with Ottakars taking 2,144 sq ft of ground floor sales space plus 1,796 sq ft for storage and administration