THE public turned out in force to attend a fun-filled weekend at the new £5.2 million Mole Avon country store at Joseph Locke Way, Wellparks, Crediton, on Saturday and Sunday, September 15 and 16.

Each day there was a chance to visit the store, where there were exclusive offers.

Other events and activities included face painting, free balloons, a chance to sit in a giant deckchair, have photos taken in a giant selfie frame, and much more.

The new store incorporates retail selling space, plus warehouse and support office facilities in the 30,000 square feet country store located on a 3.5 acre site.

The new store incorporates a range of dedicated sections including clothing, farm shop, homeware, home and gifts, agricultural, footwear, equestrian, pet and bedding, animal medicines, a cafe, small garden centre and much more.

The company has moved from the Mill Street site it has occupied since the early 1970’s.

It had been eager to move to a more suitable local site that would enable it to serve its traditional farmer base alongside the wider community.

John Lee, chairman of the board at Mole Avon, recently said that the expansion of the business to the new country store had resulted in it now employing 49 members of staff compared to 21 at its former premises.

Mr Lee said that Mole Avon was founded in about 1966 in Crediton at Downes Mill, expanding in later years to Axminster and Okehampton and having a shop in Crediton High Street, but always retaining a store in Crediton.

He added that the company was also in the process of acquiring a further acre of land adjoining the new store site.

Mr Lee said that the new store has 70kw of solar panels installed on the roof and other measures such as LED lighting, which result in it being almost zero carbon neutral.

A series of preview days have been held to enable people to visit the store.

It is now open Monday to Friday, from 8am to 5.30pm, on Saturdays from 8.30am to 5.30pm and on Sundays from 10am to 4pm.

Buckingham Palace recently confirmed that His Royal Highness, the Duke of Gloucester, will visit the store on Tuesday, October 2.

The Duke of Gloucester will perform the official opening during a day visit to Devon, which will also see him visit Exeter Mathematics School and officially open new school buildings at Chulmleigh Community College.