A Co-op food store which has been shut for eight months re-opened in style when its manager donned a butler’s uniform to serve customers last week.

The store, in Upper High Street, shut in September 2012 due to "unforeseen circumstances".

The closure was only meant to be temporary, but in March, a Co-op spokeswoman said that work on the site was "taking longer than initially anticipated" due to major structural defects being found with the floor.

The shop has now undergone a £270,000 refurbishment and, to mark its revamp, store manager Richard Reeves invited customers to taste cheese, bread, ham and olives, while dressed as a butler.

He said: "To reflect our store’s fantastic new look we decided to really serve our customers in style.

"It’s the perfect way to say thank you to our loyal customers who have been most patient while the store has been closed so our re-fit can take place."