NATIONAL pub chain J D Wetherspoons is hoping to expand its empire into Okehampton and invest £1-million into the town.

Founded in 1979, the company is planning to open 100 new pubs a year for the foreseeable future and recently took over premises in Crediton and Tiverton.

Spokesman for Wetherspoons Eddie Gershon said the firm was eager to open in Okehampton and with it would come the creation of 20 to 25 full and part-time jobs.

He said: 'We are looking for a site at the moment and generally we like to have a presence in town centres.

'We usually take over an existing premises and spend on average a million pounds refurbishing it.'

Cinemas, theatres and even post offices have been converted into Wetherspoons pubs but the company has also taken over existing pubs and licensed premises.

'Our aim is to open in as many towns as possible and Okehampton is on our list,' said Mr Gershon.

'We have no particular timescale and it will depend on whether a site becomes available. It could be soon or it could be in two or three years' time.'

Wetherspoons, founded by Tim Martin, who lives in Exeter, and named after one of his old schoolteachers, currently has 450 pubs across the UK and 12 in the South West.

Mr Gershon said the company prided itself on being a straightforward pub with no gimmicks and the public seemed to like it.

'We don't have music or theme nights — it's just a place to eat and drink and chat,' he said.

Town councillor Perry Vallance said a Wetherspoons pub would be 'a great asset to the town' and this was reiterated by town liaison officer Sidney Thompson.

He said: 'It would be very positive for Okehampton and it would bring the total number of national companies since the opening of Waitrose to four.

'We have Waitrose, Peacocks, Lidl and now it looks like Wetherspoons are choosing to invest in Okehampton.

'This has all spawned from plans to create more housing in the town.'

He said the potential rise in population was resulting in chain operators from various categories moving into town and that had to be good.