YATE has hit back against the recession with the opening of two new shops.

Fashion stores Peacocks and Bonmarché opened their doors in Yate Shopping Centre for the first time yesterday and received a warm welcome from eager shoppers.

Coming in the same week Tesco won planning permission to rebuild it town centre supermarket and four new retail units, the double opening has been seen as a major boost to the local economy.

Town mayor Cllr Ian Blair said: "In the present climate, Yate is really bucking the trend."

The former Woolworths shop, which closed at the end of 2008, was split in two to make way for the clothing chainstores.

Bonmarché was opened by Gazette competition winner Verna Seward, who was nominated for the Fabulous Female title by her daughter Carol Sokell.

Mrs Seward, 87, moved to Chipping Sodbury two years ago from Liverpool where she was a regular Bonmarché customer.

She said: "One of the things I have missed is not having a Bonmarché store.

"I like their reasonable prices and that they have clothes for the elderly as well as for the young."

Store manager Carrie Davy said the shop had employed several staff from the Bay Trading store opposite, which closed earlier this year after the firm went into administration.

She said: "It is fantastic from a recession point of view. We are very excited and it is great to be in Yate.

"We held for a preview evening the day before opening and that exceeded all our expectations."

Peacocks, which sells fashion for men, women and children, has taken on several former Woolworths staff.

Manager Aileen Edwardes said: "I know it was hard when Woolworths closed and when we held interviews we had a lot of former staff apply.

"Woolworths was the heart of the town and we hope we can fill that void."

She added: "We have really enjoyed the whole set up and it is nice to see a shop opening instead of closing. The people of Yate have been very positive about it."

The 9,500 sq ft store employs 31 people and may take on more staff in the future.