CARLISLE'S BrightHouse electrical shop has been sold to a new owner but the firm says it has no plans to leave the city.

The new owner of the shop on Scotch Street has not been revealed but a spokeswoman for BrightHouse said: "BrightHouse is committed to its store in Carlisle."

Property agents Carigiet Cowen handled the sale of the building.

Ben Blain, retail surveyor for Carigiet Cowen, said: "The Scotch Street sale demonstrates transactions are being done on the high street and on large commercial premises to big, high street names.

"For confidentiality reasons the names of the new owners of the BrightHouse building on Scotch Street cannot be released but I am delighted that the new purchasers are likely to continue providing retail from the building once the current tenant vacates at the end of their lease.

"What makes the deal more pleasing and exciting for me is the new owners already have other operations in the town, employ a large number of local people and have helped to re-energise certain parts of the city recently.”

Meanwhile, on the western side of the city, the former Aotea hair salon on Newtown Road has also been sold.

The hair salon, Chique, across the road will move over to bigger premises.

And Mr Blain said the former RL Hair Salon on Dalston Road is also up for sale and Wetheral Stores remains on the market.

He said: "Dalston Road is an ideal unit for a small established business. The space would be perfect as another business in the hair and beauty sector, but would also be suitable for other uses.

"Wetheral Stores is an exciting opportunity to acquire a thriving pair of businesses set within a superbly maintained and attractive detached three bedroom property on The Green at Wetheral. This is a rare and exciting opportunity for a party looking for a change of lifestyle, new challenge or expansion to their current business portfolio.”