Cotteswold Dairy has opened new cold storage and staff facilities at its Tewkesbury headquarters.

Dairy chairman Roger Workman - son of dairy founder Harry Workman - officially opened the new building which includes a massive cold store and new offices and staff welfare facilities.

George Workman, managing director, said: "Our employees have demonstrated incredible patience and commitment during the disruption, maintaining our valued service levels throughout the construction of the building.

"We are really delighted that we have finally received occupation of our new building, which we have named 'The Roger Workman Building' after my father. The new building will provide our staff with much improved facilities, along with helping us to be more streamlined and efficient in our operations.

"It will also free up some space to allow us to make further improvements to our production process as we look to further progress into the future."

The new building is set to be the foundation for continuing Cotteswold Dairy's mission and a catalyst for securing its longer-term business objectives.

Operations director Justin Young said: "The development is a significant milestone in our business strategy and demonstrates our future commitment to the dairy industry."

Describing the new building, director Louise Woodward said: "Downstairs is a huge cold store - a big fridge really, it links directly to our production facility and has loading bays so our lorries can pull straight up to be loaded, ensuring the chill chain of our milk and other products is maintained. We were tight on space with increased production, so this will allow for growth of the business.

"Upstairs are new offices, meeting rooms, and a canteen as well as new welfare facilities providing improved toilet and shower facilities and locker rooms. The building links to our factory and also to our existing office block.

"Our production, transport and sales teams along with our technical and health and safety teams will all be located in the new offices so they can all work better and more closely together. We hope to have full use of the building by the end of the month once it is all kitted out with furniture and the IT.

Louise added: "We hadn't told Dad that we were naming it after him so he only found out when he cut the ribbon!"