Chef Ryan Gaines was the first customer through the doors at the brand new PamPurred Pets store in Melksham, securing a free hutch for his rabbit for doing so.

He arrived at the store at 7am on January 25, and was given the hutch by retail operations manager Karen Roy and store manager Laura Williams.

The store is the chain’s third in Wiltshire, after branches in Warminster and Salisbury.

Five new members of staff were recruited for the store, which is based inside the Leekes store on Beanacre Road.

Ms Roy said: “We are absolutely delighted to open our first new store this year in Melksham, where customers can enjoy a large range of good quality foods and accessories for a wide variety of domestic pets.”