HUNDREDS of happy shoppers braved the cold to queue outside ahead of the new-look Dunelm store in Yeovil opening this morning – more than 12 months after a devastating fire closed the branch.

Special goodie bags were on offer, as well as prizes hidden around the refurbished store, in the Quedam Centre, as doors opened on Tuesday morning (December 16).

The new shop has been months in the making, after the roof was badly damaged by a fire in September last year.

Now, the 24,000 sq ft shop has a new look – and new departments – which were enjoyed by early visitors at the opening.

Ahead of the opening, store coach Kelly Warnock, said: “Re-opening our Yeovil store is a really special moment for all of us.

“The fire was devastating for our team and for the community, and it’s been a long journey to get to this point.

“While our colleagues were redeployed to nearby stores, we’ve all been looking forward to the day we could come back home and work together again.”

New features on offer at Dunelm in Yeovil include the Pausa Café and a made-to-measure department.

READ MORE: We got a sneak peek of the new Dunelm store in Yeovil: See inside
READ MORE: Dunelm in Yeovil closed ‘for foreseeable future’ following devastating fire