The new £6.5million Five Valleys Medical Practice in Stroud has opened its doors to patients.

It is located in the former Woolworths and Poundland building in King Street which has undergone a full refurbishment.

Half of the ground floor is now home to established GP practices, Locking Hill Surgery and Stroud Valleys Family Practice.

The other half has been taken over by a Starbucks coffee shop which opened last month.

A new first floor physiotherapy and podiatry suite operated by Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust will be opening shortly.

Preparation work has also begun on a 10,000 sq ft public library which will also be located in the building with work expected to complete early next year.

The medical practice was officially opened on Friday by MP for Stroud, Siobhan Baillie, whose offices are nextdoor.

She was joined at the ceremony by the owners, senior partners at the practice and representatives from NHS Gloucestershire, Stroud District Council and GFirst LEP.

Ms Baillie, said: "It was an honour to open the new medical centre. This is a big investment in our community and builds on the incredible improvements we have seen in our town centre in the last few years through public and private funding.

"Having access to new, modern, refurbished facilities is a boost for staff and patients. Local people want GPs and pharmacists to be easily accessible and there are many healthcare challenges following the pandemic, so this is something to really celebrate.

"I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard to ensure we are opening up this week."

The centre features dementia-friendly signage and decoration and a Changing Places facility on the ground floor.

Visitors will benefit from 90 minutes free parking at the multi-storey car park at Five Valleys Shopping Centre with access directly from the top floor of the car park.

Helen Goodey, director of Primary Care and Place at NHS Gloucestershire, said it was delighted to have backed the exciting development which gives healthcare in Stroud a major boost.

She added: "We are thrilled that the GP surgeries are now offering services from their superb new premises.

"Patients can look forward to receiving high quality care in a great environment whilst the healthcare professionals are much better supported in delivering this.

"We too would like to thank all of those involved in bringing this project to fruition."

The building at 1, King Street is also home to office space which has been created on the third floor for local firm, Davies Landscape Architects.

The development is a key part of Dransfield Properties' ongoing work in the centre of Stroud and the redevelopment of the Five Valleys Shopping Centre.

Mark Dransfield, managing director of Dransfield Properties, said: "We're thrilled to see the completion of this major phase of works that we have undertaken here in Stroud.

"We believe this warrants carefully crafted architecture and we strongly feel we have achieved this as well as providing the local health care service with a modern space that's designed to serve the local population in its town centre."