IT has been almost 10 months in the making but Wilko will open its new Worcester store in just over two weeks.

These pictures give a sneak peek inside the home and garden store, which is set to create 70 jobs.

Our pictures show the scale of the 14,252 square foot space which, once opened, will join the popular brand's branches in Droitwich, Malvern and Kidderminster.

The budget store will open its doors at Worcester's new £20 million Cathedral Square on Wednesday, November 1.

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 less than three months after 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 joins Starbucks, Ask Italian, Yo! Sushi, Miller & Carter, Byron Hamburgers, Cosy Club, All Bar One, Jung Fu and Fitness4Less at the development which had its grand opening in July.

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.