THE biggest ever investment in Tavistock?s Victorian pannier market was officially declared open this week by town mayor Cllr Norma Woodcock.

The five East End Stores shop units have been built at a cost of more than £250,000 and their completion sees the culmination of a town council project which has been in the pipeline for some five years.

At Tuesday?s opening ceremony, Cllr Woodcock said: ?As a town council we are very proud to have been able to refurbish these buildings to such a high standard.

?The development has really made the pannier market and the perimeter shops the focal point of the town?s shopping area.?

Cllr Woodcock said she was very pleased to welcome the new traders to the East End Stores.

?They will be a big asset to the already splendid shopping provision that we have in Tavistock,? she said.

The first two businesses to settle into their new premises are Jelly, a ladies clothes and accessories shop, and The Original Barber Shop.

Amanda and Caren Spicer of Jelly said they were looking forward to their new venture.

?We?ve got something for everybody,? said Amanda. ? We want to help make Tavistock a place where people really come to shop, just like Totnes.?

Paul Ewings, Paul Burnside and Julie Rawlings of The Original Barbershop have plenty of room for customers in their spacious premises ? plus a plentiful supply of lollypops for their youngest customers!

Town clerk Roger Howard said the council hopes the third unit, a clothes shop for men in the 16-30 age range, will be up and running before Christmas.

Negotiations are still under way regarding the other units but interest has been shown by a potter and a genealogy expert.

He said the council had to borrow money to finance the scheme, which was partly the reason it had taken so long to get under way.

?We had to have a business case to it going, then get the funding, but we think after five years we will be breaking even.

?I think it looks very good, and it?s all in keeping with the conservation area,? he said.

l Pictured at the official opening of the new East End Stores in Tavistock Pannier Market are (left to right) Amanda and Caren Spicer, proprietors of new ladies clothes shop Jelly, Cllr Norma Woodcock, mayor of Tavistock, and project contractors Terry Cundy and Graham Body.