A CHAIN of soft furnishings stores that has shops in Worcester and Hereford is celebrating the opening of its 50th store.

Dunelm Mill Stores is opening a superstore in Walsall on Thursday, October 24.

The chain, which started in 1979 with husband and wife team Bill and Jean Adderley selling fabrics on a market stall in Leicester, has stores in Worcester's CrownGate Shopping Centre, and on the Salmon Retail Park, Holmer Road, Hereford.

The family-owned company employs more than 3,000 people nationally and has sold enough fabric since it started to cover the whole of England.

The retailer is celebrating the opening of its 50th store with a range of special offers in all its shops from Friday, October 25, to Sunday, October 27.