Up-market clothes store Jack Wills is still in negotiations aimed at taking over the lease on the former Croydon’s store in Tavern Street, Ipswich.

A spokesman for the company said talks were continuing, and that it still hoped to move into the town during 2016.

It has been advertising online looking for staff “To join our brand new fabulous store in Ipswich.”

The spokesman said: “We are still working on getting the lease sorted out, but we want to have the staff in place to move as quickly as possible once we are in a position to go ahead.”

The store, which styles itself “University Outfitters” already has branches in Southwold, Aldeburgh, and Norwich.

The Tavern Street store was occupied by Croydon’s jewellers for decades – but in the 1990s it became the home of Blacks outdoor store.

That closed in 2010 and since then it has been empty – although a small part of the building is occupied by Virgin Media.

Tesco took over the lease and had planned to open a convenience store in the building – but those plans were abandoned last year after the retail giant’s financial problems forced it to re-evaluate its policies.

Now it is in negotiations with Jack Wills to sell on the lease of what is one of the most significant buildings in the heart of Ipswich.