A retail company is expected to take over one of Bradford's oldest stores.

The Telegraph & Argus can reveal that Boyes - the family company which has stores throughout the North selling household goods - has bought the freehold of Christopher Pratts furniture store, pictured, in North Parade.

The news follows months of rumours that the quality department store was on the move.

Today Pratts parent company Stoker Ltd said it was continuing to trade in the premises and had no intention of leaving Bradford. But director Mike Long confirmed it was looking at alternative premises in the city. His company is leasing the property back from Scarborough-based Boyes following the sale and is expected to be there until next year.

The move from the North Parade store would mark the end of a chapter for Pratts. A £500,000 facelift completed three years ago at the 150-year-old shop was hailed as a catalyst for the revitalisation of the north end of the city.

Boyes has 45 shops in the north selling household wares, clothes, and a variety of other goods. The family-owned company has a £45 million turnover.

Stoker Ltd has a number of furniture shops and has started building a new one in Regent Street, Leeds.

But Mr Long said: "We are trading as normal and are not moving out of Bradford. We are currently looking at alternative properties."

Managing director of Boyes, Andrew Boyes, whose great grandfather founded the company in 1831, said: "We are expecting to open a department store in the city centre at the end of next April and have bought the leasehold of an existing store. It will sell a range of goods. The city centre is being regenerated and we are pleased to be part of it."

Chairman of Bradford Retail Action Group, Jeff Frankel, said: "I am sorry Christopher Pratts is set to leave North Parade but re-assured that they are looking for other properties in Bradford."

But president of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, John Pennington, said he was disappointed Pratts' was on the move.

Stephen McManus, director of Keighley-based Chartback, which is planning to build the nearby Rawson Exchange shopping centre, said: "It is brilliant news for the revitalisation of this end of the city."