An additional 60 jobs have been created by the move to bigger premises at Wheatley next month.

And no one was excluded from consideration – the oldest new recruit is a 72 year old grandmother while other retired businessmen have been given part-time jobs.

The move will boost the staff numbers to 140.

"The most important thing was that we got staff determined to serve our new customers," said Julie Rodd of B&Q.

Since they were appointed at the end of January staff have been undergoing intensive training with teams of trainers brought north for the task.

They have also moved to move stock from the existing store at Pellon Lane to Shroggs Road, Wheatley.

"It is a flagship store for us, featuring ecologically sound systems such as in store dimmer switches and water irrigation for the plants that needed specialist staff training," she said.

And she said that experience of do it yourself was not a requirement.

"We had experienced tradespeople applying but they were rejected in some cases because we focused on customer service," she said.

The store will open at 10am on April 4 with the Pellon Lane outlet closing the previous evening.

Although nothing has been confirmed it is believed that building will become a fashion outlet, possibly Primark.