OWNERS of JBM Stores have been celebrating after it was voted Wiltshire’s Best Convenience Store in the Wiltshire Times area by readers.

The store on Gloucester Road was originally a butchers but opened as a convenience store in 1979 after being taken over by Pete Matharu and his wife Pashi.

The family-run business, which is open from 6.30am until 9pm seven days a week, has been a community hub for more than 30 years.

Mr and Mrs Matharu’s son, Paul, who studied computer systems engineering at Portsmouth University, also decided to settle down in the family business and is delighted with the award.

He said: “It’s more of a community store than anything else as it is quite hidden away.

"It's really nice to have won this award. We appreciate that customers value the store and appreciate that they come to the store; it’s always nice to be liked.

“I enjoy working here, you hear all the local news and have a bit of banter with customers and everyone knows each other’s business.”