IKEA could open its first store in Aberdeen in time for Christmas, the Evening Express can reveal today.

It is understood the Swedish furniture giant is aiming to open in the city on November 30, in order to trade before the festive season.

The store would be created on part of the site currently occupied by Makro on the Wellington Industrial Estate in Nigg.

The focus will be on an order and collection service with a limited product range available in store.

There are also plans for a customer cafe.

Aberdeen will be the third city in Scotland to have an IKEA outlet, after Edinburgh and Glasgow.

An IKEA spokeswoman remained coy over its plans to open a store in the Granite City.

She said: “Over the next year, IKEA will test three order and collection points in the UK, exploring slightly different formats in each selected market and using this as an opportunity to find out more about how customers want to shop with IKEA in these areas.”