FASHION outlet Scary Canary has shut up shop ahead of plans to open a new base in the town's High Street.

The popular shop in Victoria Passage, run by Stacey Smith and her partner Steve Pilcher, has been going for four years but its forward-thinking business bosses have decided to pursue something new.

They have taken on the top two floors of what's left of the old three-storey McDonald's unit at the top end of the High Street - above quirky coffee shop The Coffee Collective which took over half of the downstairs part of the store last summer.

Stacey said: "It's a new adventure for us.

"The lease was coming to an end and we wanted a new challenge."

The pair, who marked their last trading day in Victoria Passage on Saturday March 1, have already got the keys to the new base which Stacey has described as being "like a bombsite" and they plan to spend the next few months renovating before opening in style in the summer.

The new venture, however, will be more of a shopping by appointment-type affair - and customers will be invited to browse at regular events featuring live music and film screenings.

Stacey said: "We're trying to make it more exciting. People will be able to book personal shopping experiences - or come and watch a band at the same time rather than just boring shopping.

"The High Street's changing and you have to make it more interesting for people."

She said music, film and art events organised by Scary Canary in the past have proved popular so they hope to run more of them in the future and make the new venue a real community venture.

A date for the official opening event has not yet been set but it is likely to be in summer.

In the meantime fashion fans can continue to buy clothing and accessories online at www.scarycanaryclothing.co.uk/

People can also keep up-to-date by checking the Scary Canary Facebook site www.facebook.com/ScaryCanaryClothingShop or emailing info@scarycanaryclothing.co.uk