UPMARKET department store House of Fraser is looking to open one of its massive shops in Southampton, the Daily Echo can reveal.

The move would create hundreds of jobs in the city, with equivalent department stores such as John Lewis employing more than 1,000 in its WestQuay shopping centre branch.

The group has been hunting for a store in Southampton for some time but has had no success in finding a suitable site. Bosses are now thought to be in talks with at least two landowners in the city centre.

The arrival of House of Fraser in Southampton would be a massive boost for the city centre and would turn the tide of budget fashion brands taking major shops here.

As previously reported by the Daily Echo, New Look is to take over the former Waitrose store in WestQuay, while TK Maxx is to take over the former Woolworths shop in Above Bar later this year.

Now Primark, Peacocks, TK Maxx, New Look, Ethel Austin, Mark One and Matalan - all budget fashion - have a significant presence in Southampton.

A House of Fraser spokesman said: "Based on recent research we have identified Southampton as a key target area for House of Fraser and we are looking at suitable locations. We continue to investigate the opportunities presented to us."

City centre manager Ian Rothwell said: "This is excellent news for southampton and demonstrates that we are the premier regional shopping centre.

"There are a lot of high quality shops like House of Fraser that want to come to the city but the problem is that there's not much suitable space. Having said that I think there's a number of sites House of Fraser could go but I wouldn't like to speculate."

House of Fraser has 61 stores across the country, with its flagship store in London's Oxford Street, and sells "everything you need to make a house a home, from decor and furniture and all you could need for the kitchen, to clothes to fill your closets and cupboards".

Founded in 1849, the firm made profits of £22.3m on a turnover of £701m last year.