Budget fashion retailer Primark plans to expand into Italy.

Primark, which trades as Penneys in Ireland, intends to set up three stores there next year.

The first will be opening in early summer.

Bosses say a successful entry into France 18 months ago has encouraged them to set their sights on Italy.

Their first French outlet was opened in Marseilles in December 2013, while a second French store opened in Dijon in 2014.

Penneys opened its first store in Dublin in 1969, and now operates in over 250 stores in eight countries in Europe and growing.

Ireland has 38 Penneys branded stores in total.

Primark also have operations in Spain, The Netherlands, Portugal, Germany Belgium and Austria.

The largest store that Primark operate world-wide is Manchester, which occupies a retail space of 155,000 sq ft.