A BOOK war could break out in both Oxford and Cambridge as US-based superstore chain Borders revealed plans to move into both cities.

Borders, which already has 250 stores in the USA, Australia, Singapore, London, Brighton and Glasgow, announced its move into Cambridge as Oxford company Blackwell's signed a deal to buy Heffers, a family firm with a long history.

Borders, which serves coffee and allows buyers to browse their way through books, music and videos, is also taking space in the new Debenham's development in Magdalen Street, Oxford.

The Oxford Borders superstore is scheduled to open by Christmas 2000.

Richard Joseph, chairman and chief executive of Borders, said the Cambridge store would open next year with "a strong academic book offer" as well as the traditional mix of general books, children's, music and videos. Blackwell's academic marketing manager Beth Jenkins said: "We are not complacent, but we are not desperately worried.

"We are working in very different markets, and although they may want to start looking at the academic market we have spent 120 years building links with universities, getting the right stock and the right staff."

Signing the deal with Heffer's, Blackwell's Bookshops managing director Alan Leitch said "This is the equivalent of a varsity boat race draw.

"It is a very exciting day with plenty to celebrate in both Oxford and Cambridge - Heffer customers will have access to the wider resources of a national chain; Heffer's staff will benefit from new career opportunities in over 80 bookshops; and Blackwell's will learn from the experience and expertise that Heffer's can offer."

A project team led by Blackwell's head of operations Terry Field and manager of the Broad Street shop Sharon Murray has started work in Cambridge to ensure a smooth transfer.

Story date: Thursday 08 April

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.