HIGH-STREET fashion giants Topshop will not be opening a store in Irvine’s Rivergate Mall, the Times can reveal.

Rumours have swept over the town in recent weeks that the clothing chain is to open a store in the former premises of clothing store Internacionale.

However shoppers hopes were dashed this week when the Times had confirmation that the rumours are not true.

Topshop has confirmed no plans have been made to open a store in Irvine.

Rivergate Mall management also confirmed they had heard many rumours of a Topshop store coming to Irvine, but those rumours are simply not true.

A spokesman said: “We have heard lots of rumours about this, but it is definitely not true.” A spokeswoman for Topshop said: “Topshop have no current plans to open in Irvine.” The shopping centre is the biggest in Ayrshire and already home to high street big names such as New Look, Primark, Dorothy Perkins and Burton. Topshop is owned by the Arcadia group which also owns Wallis, Evans, Miss Selfridge, Outfit, Dorothy Perkins and Burton, amonst others.

Just last month the Times revealed that Costa Coffee, which already has a stand inside the Rivergate Mall, had received planning permission to open a new premises in Riverway Retail Park.