AN OXFORD flower shop has been so successful that the owner is looking to expand to bigger premises.

Emma Walker Flowers, of South Parade, Summertown, is planning to move to a larger out-of-town base, creating a vacancy in one of Oxford’s busiest and best-known shopping streets.

Ms Walker (pictured) said she had already received three offers for the lease of the 629 sq ft shop, and expects to move after Christmas.

She said: "We do very big orders for weddings and our current premises are too small. I am hoping to move out in January.”

Agents Carter Jonas say South Parade is “the hub of cultural and commercial life in North Oxford” with shops, restaurants and the North Wall Theatre and Arts Centre.

The shop, which has a 340 sq ft rear store and 150 sq ft basement for storage or office space, is available to let at £18,250 a year.

Ms Walker, who opened the shop six years ago, said: “The shop is in a great spot to launch a business.

“We definitely won a lot of business and contacts from being in such a prominent place in North Oxford which we would not have won if we had been somewhere else.”

Jon Silversides, of Carter Jonas, said: “This is currently the only retail unit available in a very sought after location and as such we are expecting a large amount of interest. It can be difficult for independent retailers to establish themselves in Oxford, and lack of suitable and affordable accommodation plays a part in this.

“South Parade offers a quality shopping experience which already boasts a diverse range of independent retailers and outlets, and Number 35 offers an excellent opportunity for a newcomer to be another success story,” he said.