Crowds descended on the latest retailer to open in Stroud's new-look multi-million pound Five Valleys shopping centre.

Work is still underway refurbishing the town's former Merrywalks shopping centre, but the investment has been enough to convince a well-known high street brand to open its 99ths store at the location.

And the opening of the parent and baby specialist, JoJo Maman Bébé, attracted hundreds of shoppers.

Cllr Kevin Cranston cut the ribbon cutting along with the store team and the company's managing director and founder, Laura Tenison MBE.

Laura said: "We look forward to assisting expectant mothers, new parents, grandparents and baby gift buyers to find exactly what they need within a short walk of their homes.

"We hope to become embedded in the community, offering advice and support to our customers from pregnancy to pre-school."

Mark Dransfield, managing director of Dransfield Properties, which owns and is refurbishing the centre, said: "What a fantastic welcome Stroud gave our newest store at the weekend. It was fantastic to see the centre so busy and vibrant and it really shows what can be achieved with the right mix of retailers.

"We are confident that JoJo Maman Bébé will be a fantastic addition to Five Valley's and are delighted to be working with a great family run company, which we have worked with for many years on a number of our projects across the UK."

More than 200 shoppers turned out for the special opening, with the first 100 to make a purchase receiving a free goody bag - there were also some special opening discounts across the store.

The store has also been fitted with a water refill station that will allow customers to fill up their reusable bottles. The fountains are to be rolled out to JoJo's new and larger stores across the country.

JoJo Maman Bébé was founded in 1993 by Laura Tenison MBE and has grown to become the UK's leading mother and baby multi-channel boutique brand. The family company has grown organically and now has 99 stores as well as trade sales to 50 countries.

Five Valleys is undergoing a major transformation, part-funded by Gloucestershire local enterprise partnership GFirst LEP. The second phase of work is now completed.

The third phase involved wrapping the car park and transforming the mall area. Speller Metcalfe is currently working on this part of the development scheduled for completion next spring/summer.