A new restaurant and takeaway in Workington town centre is a step closer to fruition after plans were approved.

Bosses at Washington Square shopping centre lodged plans to change the use of the empty Edinburgh Woollen Mill unit on Ivison Lane for a restaurant and takeaway.

The plans, lodged with Allerdale council in January, came two months after Dave Fletcher, the shopping centre’s development manager, said the owners were in talks with two or three chains interested in moving into the premises.

The application has now been approved.

Nando’s has been rumoured to be among those interested in coming to the town.

The chain previously said it had no plans to open in Workington, but did not confirm whether it was a target location.