Poundland is planning to open 75 new stores over the next three months.

The discount retailer, which has stores in Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury, is embarking on its largest three-month growth programme in its history.

The rapid expansion plans include a mix of new stores and relocations of existing branches, reports Retail Gazette.

The business is continuing the conversion of the 71 Wilko branches it acquired last month - with 19 more to open in the next two weeks, bringing the total number of stores to 56.

Poundland managing director Austin Cooke was quoted as saying: "To open 75 stores in the space of a single quarter is nothing short of a super-human effort from every member of the Poundland team. To each and every one of them I say 'thank you'.

"But we're working at this pace because we're on a mission - ambitious to grow, create jobs and serve new communities by opening shops customers and communities can be proud of."