HIGHWORTH Emporium rolled out the red carpet to welcome shoppers to their new and improved store in the High Street this weekend.

Couple Aga Gabrysiak and Richard Marsden have spent weeks revamping the gift shop and adding a host of new products, with dedicated sections for fashion, parties, toys, candles and much more.

They also revealed a new Christmas cove full of decorations which was proving popular with the stream of customers coming through the door on Saturday. Mayor Alan Bishop also got involved with the opening celebrations.

“We are so relieved it’s now open,” said Richard, 51, a former sales rep, who has been in the gift and greeting card industry for 26 years.

“We saw it was up for sale in March and took over in August. We then closed the shop for ten days to refurbish it ourselves with our families, so it was a real joint effort.

“We are the only independent gift shop for about five miles and we want to be the best in the area with a mix of luxury and affordable gifts.”

The shop was originally a house before it then become a greengrocer, butchers and then finally the gift shop.

Aga, 42, added: “We’ve been so busy setting it up we haven’t had time to appreciate what we have done until today.

“People are so complimentary I can’t believe it. They are walking in and saying ‘Wow’.

"I want people to feel they can always count on friendly and helpful staff, and they can always find what they are looking for, or if people just want to come in for some inspiration and ideas that is what we want to achieve.

“With the cards people are also amazed at the selection, we are doing Mr and Mr wedding cards and here come the brides and other niche cards to please everyone.”

The shop is open 8am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 4pm on Saturdays.