The latest twist in the long-running saga of the former Granada TV shop in Devizes Market Place, is that national restaurant chain Pizza Express has said it is about to submit a planning application to open a restaurant there.

The premises, which already have planning permission for an ASK restaurant, have been empty since Granada pulled out six years ago.

They have been completely refurbished by local builders Gaiger Brothers for owner John Stratford of Jersey-based Westray Investments.

ASK Restaurants applied for planning permission to open a restaurant there in May last year, and almost as soon as it was granted the company applied for variation of condition that limited the permission to its company.

This was turned down and now Pizza Express has announced it will be applying for its own planning permission.

A spokesman said: "We are delighted at the prospect of opening a new outlet in Devizes."

Pizza Express offers a similar kind of pizza-and-pasta menu to ASK. The company has restaurants in Chippenham, Bath, Swindon and Marlborough.

But no opening date has yet been announced and the company is not likely to fix one until planning permission has been approved.

The long-awaited opening of the new J D Wetherspoon pub, the Silk Mercer, is no closer either. It was reported that work had been held up again because of negotiations between the pub chain and Kennet District Council's conservation department.

A spokesman for J D Wetherspoon said: "When you are dealing with listed buildings, these kind of hold-ups are only to be expected. Negotiations are continuing but we are still no nearer finding out when we will be able to open to the public."