Two new arrivals are preparing to open their doors at Stroud's Five Valleys Shopping Centre, including one with a strong family connection to the site.

Independent department store Sandersons Boutique is due to open the company's third branch on April 14 - subject to coronavirus restrictions - while Gloucester greengrocer Oakesey's will add a new food outlet.

Work has begun to fit out the 15,295sq ft Sandersons site which will stock fashion brands including Cheltenham-based designer Holland Cooper, fragrances, skincare products and homeware.

The company was founded in Sheffield in 2016 by the late Deborah Holmes whose husband Mark Dransfield, managing director at Five Valleys owners Dransfield Properties, has taken over as chief executive.

He said: "At Sandersons we believe in our high streets and we recognise that customers expect excellent service from their local stores.

"We will be employing local people to serve the community and our staff will be trained to the highest of standards in order to provide exceptional customer service, backed by product knowledge and training.

"Retailers really can't afford to be complacent and there is no place in a successful retail environment for lacklustre customer service - our team will be on hand to offer honest and helpful style and beauty advice and make our customers feel super special."

He continued: "The interior of the new store has been modelled on buildings in the Meatpacking District of New York by our award-winning designer, so our customers can expect to shop in a stunning environment when they visit us.

"I absolutely love this town and am delighted to continue our company's investment here with the new Sandersons Boutique."

Oakesey's brings more than 20 years of experience in the business and will be providing home delivery and contactless deliveries.

Owner Michael Oakes said: "We are delighted to be joining the line up at the Five Valleys Market, we feel it is a fantastic location to expand our business and we are looking forward to meeting our new customers in the very near future."