ARTS and crafts giant Hobbycraft is opening a new store in the city next month.

Opening in Blackpole Retail Park on Tuesday, October 8, the store will create 20 new jobs for the area after receiving over 120 applications for a variety of roles.

To celebrate, Hobbycraft, the UK’s largest arts and crafts retailer, will also be hosting a grand opening event on Saturday, October 12 from 9am, with exclusive offers and various activities.

Store manager, Chris said he and his colleagues have been “working really hard” to ensure the store is ready for the big opening.

“We’re really looking forward to opening the doors to our Worcester store and share our passion for arts and crafts with the community,” he said.

“We’ve been working really hard to ensure that the store will be packed full of the most exciting crafting products, which will help our customers create handmade masterpieces.

“Our new colleagues are all dedicated crafters and are ready to inspire and share their knowledge with locals of all crafting abilities.”

In May, after complaints about congestion around the retail park, a spokesman for Worcestershire County Council highways department said Blackpole Road, as well as Astwood Road and Bilford Road "will be part of a review process within the next two years".

Resident Roger Groves said it's time to "look at improving traffic flow".

"The traffic along Blackpole Road has increased since Lidl and Marks & Spencer have opened, so perhaps it is about time for a review of this part of Worcester where there is lots of shopping and industry companies,” he said.

Hobbycraft was founded in 1995 and currently has 94 branches across the UK and employs 2,200 staff members.

It was started by the Haskins Group, a nursery and garden supplier in the south of England, and was bought by investment group Bridgepoint in April 2010.

The first store opened in Dorset in 1995 and the current chief executive is Dominic Jordan.

Blackpole Retail Park is currently home to the likes of M&S Simply Food, Pets at Home, Carpetright and McDonald’s.

The nearest Hobbycraft is in Webbs of Wychbold.