Both of the biggest empty shops in Marlborough High Street have been let the with two major retailers poised to move in.

The family clothing store M&Co, formerly Mackays, which has branches in Devizes, Wootton Bassett and Trowbridge, will be moving into the premises recently vacated by M&S Simply Food.

The old Woolworths is to become a pound shop for the short term only with a big name retailer, whose name is being kept under wraps, moving in early in 2010.

There were signs last week that something was happening at the former Marks and Spencer store when contractors began stripping out the refrigeration unit that was controversially placed in the garden behind the High Street shop before it opened two years ago.

There had been concerns that the huge condensing unit, that had to be lifted over the shop by a giant crane, would create a noise nuisance for neighbours. There was no crane to lift it out last week and the unit was broken down and removed as scrap metal.

Then at the weekend a sign went up over the empty Woollies saying it had been acquired by Cheltenham based agents Downing Bentley for a retail client. This week agents acting for M&Co confirmed the clothing company was taking over the lease of the M&S shop and will be moving in over the next few weeks.

M&Co is an affordable clothing store that will be selling men’s and children’s clothing as well as women’s fashions. It will open in six to eight weeks time.

Mayor Nick Fogg was delighted and said: “This is really good news for Marlborough. The big hole in the High Street is filling up.

“M&Co will provide what has long been needed: a range of affordable and stylish clothing. It’s particularly pleasing that kids will be catered for; an option we have been lacking for too long.

“It’s splendid that the long-awaited green shoots are finally appearing.”

Paul Bentley, director of Downing and Bentley, was unable to say which retailer was moving into Woolworths at the end of the year but confirmed it would become a pound shop for the next few months.

“All I can say is that the new shop will be very swish and upmarket and it will be good news for Marlborough.”