A DIY giant is to open its doors to the public for the first time after moving to its new home at a £60million retail park.

The ribbon will be cut next Friday morning as B&Q celebrates moving to its new “bigger and better” store at Stane Retail Park in Stanway.

Joining store manager Caroline Voutsinas for the official opening will be Colchester mayor Robert Davidson, and B&Q’s director of business development, Chris Bargate.

The firm is one of the first residents to join the newly-built retail park, located off the Western Bypass near Tollgate.

Aldi is also moving from its London Road store to the site, while the new M&S Foodhall will be the first food only store from the company in Colchester.

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An “improved offering” will be available to customers at B&Q’s new store, with a huge range of products for home improvement needs.

There will also be a purpose-built garden centre, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom showroom and a dedicated load and go area for TradePoint customers to support bulk orders and easy access.

A new shop in a shop for workwear will be featured, as well as services, including paint mixing and Click + Collect.

The DIY giant has confirmed all staff at its existing Colchester store have been offered roles at its new base.

It confirmed all staff from the Lightship Way store will either transferred to the new Stanway site, or have been offered roles elsewhere.

Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s is due to open a new store on the former B&Q site at the Hythe, although details have yet been released as to when that will happen.