Entrepreneurs Hester and John Pollock aim to spice up shoppers' lives with an Oriental gift store.

Colours, based in Abingdon's East St Helen Street, offers exclusive designs and gifts, including paintings created by Chinese peasant workers.

The couple say they are not deterred by frequent horror stories about the town's "dying" retail trade.

Mrs Pollock, a former landscape architect who worked in Japan, said: "I am confident we will do very well.

"Abingdon could do with something a bit more unusual and up-market, and this particular shop was reasonable in terms of rent.

"I have looked into it extensively. Many the other premises in the town were over-priced. We went for the cheapest option."

The shop also offers a bridal bouquet preserving service, turning the flowers into framed gifts.

Mrs Pollock said: "My family has preserved bouquets for years. My granny started it and the skills were passed down the family."

Story date: Wednesday 27 October

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