CITY mayor Steve Mackay is set to open the new Wilko store at Worcester's new £20 million Cathedral Square.

The mayor will lead a ribbon cutting ceremony along with Vivienne Bull, from Cancer Research, Wilko retail director Anthony Houghton and Wilko Worcester branch manager Dana Read, during the official opening at 9am on Wednesday, November 1.

The 14,252 square foot home and garden store will be giving away 100 gifts, including £5, £10 and £20 gift cards, plus kitchen appliances including a copper kettle, toaster, hand blender and hand mixer.

There will also be free hot chocolate for customers and a speed sketcher in store.

Wilko Worcester manager Dana Read said: "The team is busy preparing the final touches to the store ahead of the official opening.

"We are very excited to welcome the customers to come and see our wide range of products at everyday stay low prices. We know shoppers will be impressed by the quality and value we have to offer and with Christmas fast approaching now is the perfect time to come and browse our collections.

"We’ve got lots of exciting things planned for the launch day, so we hope everyone can come and join us to celebrate Wilko’s new home at Cathedral Square, Worcester."

Earlier this year the Worcester News reported that Wilko Retail Ltd had signed a 10-year lease at a rent of £380,000 pa, on a unit in the Cathedral Square complex, the largest letting in the city centre in seven years.

The opening comes as the retailer announced it had entered redundancy consultation with nearly 4,000 staff at existing stores, with the economic effects of Brexit blamed.

Some 339 tonnes of steel have been used for the new look Cathedral Square, which is set to create 415 retail jobs once open.

Wilko is a third generation, family-owned business, with a 85 year history of trading.

JK Wilkinson opened the first Wilko store in 1930 and since then the company’s portfolio has expanded significantly with 409 stores across the UK.