The Swedish furniture retailer Ikea is hoping to open smaller city outlets across the UK.

Could it mean that Gloucester will at last get an Ikea to add to its growing retail offering?

There have been many reports that the furniture retailer would like to open in Gloucester filling the gap between Bristol and Birmingham but so far no progress.

Now following a positive response to Ikea's smaller city centre store in London's Tottenham Court Road, the Scandinavian company is likely to expand the idea across the country.

Ikea has announced that its UK revenues in the year to 31 August rose were up by 5.9 per cent to £1.96bn.

The furniture retailer has opened two new large-format stores in Sheffield and Exeter taking its nationwide total to 21.

Punchline hopes Ikea does come to Gloucester adding to the retail mix the city now has to offer. What better place than the Peel Centre where the ToysRUs store is now empty and there is plenty of space next to the new Next store which is set to open next year.