Specsavers is relocating its Stroud store from King Street to Five Valleys shopping centre.

The 3,300 sq ft store, next door to the centre's new medical practice, has benefitted from a £650k investment. It has created five new jobs, with more expected to come.

The store has invested in new technology for Stroud, including a second £50,000 OCT (optical coherence tomography) machine and Gloucestershire's only ultra-wide field camera.

The team, with a combined 60 years' optical experience, will be headed by the store's directors Cobi Williams, Jo Bryan and Riz Choonara.

Cobi, who is the director and dispensing optician for the store, started his career at Specsavers in 2010 as an optical assistant. He progressed through the company, carrying out his dispensing and optician degree, and moving to the Stroud store in 2015 as general manager. He became a director in 2020.

The Stroud store has grown every year, doubling its workforce to a current team of 25 people.

Cobi Williams said: "We're extremely excited about our new space and becoming part of Five Valleys. Our team are incredibly passionate about optics and audiology, and I am keen to help build the careers of our new starters. Specsavers offers lots of career progression, and it is amazing to help members of staff develop and grow."

As well as eye tests and hearing checks, the new store will provide a wide range of optical and audiology services. It will be equipped with seven consulting rooms and a sound-proofed audiology booth to support the needs of Stroud residents.

Fit out works have already begun, and the store is expected to be open to the public next month.

James Shepherd, managing director at Dransfield Properties, which owns Five Valleys, said: "We are delighted to welcome Specsavers to Five Valleys. The new store looks great, and we'd like to wish Cobi, Jo, Riz and the whole team all the very best in their new venture."