A NEW shop in Evesham has been given a civic opening and a welcome from the Market Town Partnership.

The ribbon at Beauty and the Bags in Bridge Street, Evesham, was cut by town mayor Robert Raphael, who told owners Andrea Knight- Ricketts and daughter Zara Chatterley: “It is wonderful to see this shop opened and we all wish you well.”

The shop, which specialises in handbags, also includes a beauty room alongside ladies clothing from Denmark and a one-stop wedding shop. The opening marked a step forward for the owners who run a stall at the town’s Saturday Charter Market. “I had seen this little shop and loved it.

When it became available we took it on,” Andrea said.

The opening was welcomed by Shawn Riley, Evesham Town Market Partnership (MTP) manager, who said it was the first time a Charter Market stallholder had gone on to take a shop in the town.

“I see market stalls as the way in to taking shops,” Mr Riley said. “A stall gives the opportunity to build up a customer base and the opportunity to move on and continue building.

“The great thing here is that they are squeezing as much out of the accommodation as they can.”

Chairman of the MTP Gerry O’Donnell said: “It is always good to see shops occupied and we wish them well.”