A JOBS boost is on the cards for one of West Somerset's leading retailers which less than a year ago was facing possible collapse.

Tony Pryce Sports was bought out of administration by the H. Young Group at the end of March.

But now the company has not only secured the future of its administrative and distribution hub in Minehead - where it was founded in 1978 - it is also taking on new responsibilities that will bring additional employment opportunities at its offices and warehouse in the town.

Tony Pryce Sports, which has more than 30 outlets across the South West and Wales trades under several brands, including Wipeout and Edge, in addition to its own.

At the time of the buy-out, it also operated 15 surfware Animal-branded stores under licence, a brand owned by H. Young.

Now Tony Pryce Sports has been given responsibility for a further 17 Animal shops nationwide, from Norwich to York.

The move will not only bring new jobs but also added security for the 28 people already employed at the Minehead headquarters, following uncertainty earlier this year over a possible centralisation of the business in Poole.

Managing director Adrian Giblett, who with his wife Jo - whose father founded the company - still retains a share in it, said it was too early to say how many new jobs would be created.

But he said it was good news for the business and Minehead.

"We will be taking on more staff in both the offices and the warehouse," he told the Free Press this week.

"Retail is certainly struggling at the moment and we are really pleased that the company has shown this confidence in us.

"It will be a challenge but we believe 2012, with the Olympics, will be a good year for us."

Mr Giblett said the new job opportunities would be created in May when the additional stores came under the Tony Pryce Sports umbrella.

News of the jobs boost was welcomed by Minehead Chamber of Trade chairman Graham Sizer.

"This is a wonderful piece of news," he said.

"2012 will see some big changes on the employment front, even at our local level, so to hear something so positive this early in the year is very encouraging.

"It would have been very easy for the new owners to have looked at Minehead as a distribution base and dismissed it.

"The existing staff will now have their jobs secured and it shows there are rays of hope for those out of work at this low point in the seasonal calendar for employment."

Mr Sizer said the number of empty shops in Minehead's high street was also currently bucking the national trend.

In the summer, the chamber raised concerns as the number of unoccupied outlets rose to 11.

But Mr Sizer said three of the 11 now had new owners, with a gift and fortune telling shop opening in Parks Street and a funeral director and monumental mason setting up in two new shops created from the former shoe shop opposite.

In addition, a florists and a clothes shop had opened in The Parade.

Mr Sizer said he believed the former Jag outlet on Floyds Corner and Trenz in Blenheim Road would also soon be occupied.

"Businesses in Minehead are very resilient and they stay amazingly optimistic," he added.

He said there were also encouraging signals coming from both Minehead Town Council and West Somerset Council.

"Relations are getting stronger and I am sure my members will take heart from some of the decisions that will be announced soon."