THE oldest and youngest employees at Wilkinson in Fareham joined the borough's mayor and mayoress to declare the store open for business.
Doreen Cameron, aged 70, and 16-year-old Jo Pointer helped Cllr David Swanbrow and his wife Jane perform a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Customers then poured into the West Street store, part of the £30 million Market Quay development, to browse the range of home and gardenware, DIY goods, toiletries and confectionery.
Children were treated to a visit from a dragon, face painting and balloons.
Jo, who starred in the opening ceremony, will work parttime at the store as well as continuing her studies. She has taken the job after gaining nine A*s and three As in her GCSEs.
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