A NEW city furniture store was due to open its doors today, run by one of the city's oldest retailers.

Russell & Dorrell's new furniture store takes up all three floors of the old County Mills building, in Dolday, Worcester.

Following three months of extensive refurbishments, workmen were feverishly finishing off the final touches last night, ready for the grand opening at 10am this morning.

Russell & Dorrell's department store traded for almost 170-years in Worcester's High Street, before closing its doors for the last time in January.

At a special preview session yesterday, members of the city business community inspected the new store amid the whirring of drills and vacuum cleaners.

"We're running to a very tight deadline," said Howard Dorrell at the preview session.

"But I think we've put together a very impressive store. That's why we've invited people along today, to see for themselves."

Each of the three, 9,000 sq ft floors has been given a different colour scheme and "feel", with contemporary furniture on the ground floor, and traditional furniture on the first floor.

The second, or top, floor is devoted to bedroom furniture, with more than 60 different beds on display.

The new store will employ about 25 sales assistants, with a further 20 people employed in office and warehousing functions. More than half of the new workforce was previously employed in the department store.

"Everybody's really looking forward to trading again," said Mr Dorrell.

"After three months of things being all up in the air, we're looking forward to the structure of opening and closing at set times."