Stevenage's former Waitrose unit will finally be filled after four years of standing empty, with a funeral directors set to move in.

Austin's Funeral Directors will take over the space on the High Street, which, according to the business, will be used for "private arrangement facilities for bereaved families, chapels of rest and a funeral service room".

"It’s been a while coming but work has now started on our new premises in Stevenage Old Town High Street," read a post on their Facebook page.

A large sign has also been placed outside the unit confirming it is being refurbished for the company.

Originally founded as W. Austin and Sons Limited in 1700 in Graveley, Austin's now has 13 funeral director offices across Hertfordshire and has been passed down through 10 generations of the family, establishing itself as one of the oldest family-run funeral directors in the UK.

The unit has stood empty since 2019, when the Waitrose store closed to much sadness after 41 years of trading.

The site was split in half, with the Old Town Food Centre moving into one of the sections in 2021, and there will be delight that both spaces have finally been filled after four years.