A NEW pop-up shop could soon be opening in the centre of Wallingford.

Wallingford Town Council and South Oxfordshire District Council invited Flashop UK Ltd to open in 29 High Street in July last year and has been promoting the pop-up project ever since.

In December, Richard Strange opened a music store in an empty unit on Castle Street on a temporary basis after previously running the Music Box in the Market Place until it closed in 2006.

Now the pop-up shop project will focus on the other end of town, where department store Pettits is undergoing a major refurbishment.

Flashop UK Ltd is working with the landlord of the unit on the corner of St Mary's Street and New Road, formerly occupied by Beauty Corner until its move along the street.

Wallingford mayor Lynda Atkins said: "We’re really pleased that Flashop UK is on the verge of securing a second pop-up shop.

"The first has added a real buzz to the town and helped develop Wallingford into a hub for gifts and designer homewares.

"We look forward to seeing where the next pop-up shop takes us."

The pop-up shops aim to offer would-be town centre businesses the chance to build a loyal customer base, with a view to filling empty units in town on a permanent basis.

The initiative is being run by town centre specialists Flashop UK Ltd directors Iain Nicholson and Neil Wild.

They are linking up with Wallingford market town co-ordinator Kate Rayner, to support efforts to reduce the number of empty shops in the town centre.

Businesses are being given the opportunity to hire the pop-up space on a weekly fee, providing them with a realistic experience of running a retail business.

Priority is being given to businesses that add to the mix of independent stores in the town.

Create-ability and Variety of Vintage, the current occupiers of the 29 High Street pop-up, are working to secure a long-term lease of their own in a permanent location under their new joint name, Sew Very Vintage.