Shoppers are celebrating having two Primark stores in Oxford by visiting both for bargains.

Staff at Primark's store in the Westgate Centre said it was due to close on Saturday, February 13 as work progresses on the £440m revamp of the centre, due for completion in autumn 2017.

Another Primark outlet has opened in Queen Street and it has been busy with shoppers today.

Mum-of-one Esmenia Lisboa, 33, of Southfield Park, East Oxford, said: "I buy clothes for my three-year-old daughter Micha in Primark and everything is very reasonably priced.

"The new store is quite nice and I hope Primark will come back bigger and better when the new Westgate Centre opens next year."

Kate Couldridge, 22, an education student at Oxford Brookes University, added: "I bought a pair of £10 pyjamas from the Westgate store when I couldn't find what I wanted in Queen Street."

The Westgate Oxford Alliance, a joint venture between Land Securities and The Crown Estate, confirmed yesterday it has acquired the Castle Quarter, where the Malmaison hotel is based, for £47.2m from The Trevor Osborne Property Group.

Jack Busby, portfolio director at Land Securities, said: "We are delighted to have bought this attractive and historic site so close to our Westgate Oxford development.

"Westgate Oxford Alliance is investing heavily in Oxford and is working closely with Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council to unlock the regeneration potential of the city centre."

Labour city councillor Colin Cook said: "Work at the Westgate Centre is progressing well - as far as we know everything is on schedule and there are no delays."