CHIPPENHAM MP Michelle Donelan has cut a ribbon to officially open Gompels Healthcare's new offices and warehouse in Melksham.

The company has just completed the third phase of development at its headquarters in Swift Way on the Bowerhill Industrial Estate.

The MP said: "It's a very special day with four generations of the Gompels family here to celebrate.

"What's really nice is that the company is now employing the grandchildren of some of the early employees and is going from strength to strength."

The opening represents a significant investment by the company, which now employs 65 people at Swift Way.

Managing director Sam Gompels said: "Whilst we are celebrating the opening of our third building on this site, we really should be celebrating the team who have made it all possible.

"They are a hardworking, dedicated group who strive every day to look after our customers."

Mr Gompels' father, David, originally launched D&M Gompels Pharmacy in Bank Street, Melksham, in 1967. The company also has branches at the Spa Medical Centre and in Redditch and Worcester.

D & M Gompels Pharmacy is now run by Mr Gompels' brother Nick, while Gompels Healthcare is an independent supplier of products to 6,000 children's nurseries and care homes across the UK.

A wholesale business started over 30 years ago when the pharmacy started supplying factories and care homes around Melksham.

After expanding out of the Bank Street site to Corsham, the steady growth over the last 20 years saw the company move into Pegasus Way on Bowerhill and then Swift Way.

It stocks a range of more than 2,100 products covering arts and crafts to nappies, gloves and wipes and incontinence pads.

Shipping containers arriving daily ats its warehouses from places as far flung as China, India, Turkey and Vietnam.

The first phase of development at Swift Way started in 2007 and the second in 2010. This latest phase has enabled the company to continue to expand and take in additional stock for Brexit .

Sam Gompels said: "You can't imagine a care home without gloves and incontinence pads. We strive to look after our customers who are the old, the sick and the very young.

"Making sure we have the products in stock and ready for next-day delivery is a challenge that our great team enjoy every day."

Just under a third of the 65 jobs are in the warehouse, the rest are in the office doing marketing, sales, purchasing, finance and customer service.