A MULTI-MILLION pound revamped Boots store was opening today in Oxford, writes David Duffy.

The retailer has pumped more than 20m into the new-look larger store in Cornmarket Street, which has seen a boost in trade following the introduction of the Oxford transport Strategy.

The refurbishment has led to an increase of about 50 per cent in the sales area of the store, following the expansion into shop space formerly occupied by H Samuel in Cornmarket, and Mothercare and the TSB in Market Street.

Other features of the larger store include:

A parent and baby room

Toilets

A one-hour photo processing lab.

A Boots dental practice is due to open in the store next month.

The newly-launched shop also has a new beauty hall, as well as a new dispensary, which Boots said will make sure prescriptions are prepared quickly and efficiently.

Ian Webster, managing director of Boots Properties, said: "The project represents one of the most important improvements in Boots The Chemists' store portfolio for a number of years.

"Trading from two floors, the extra sales space will improve the shopping environment."

He said 11m had been spent on acquiring the adjacent stores and the rest on refurbishing the store.