A TRAINED beauty therapist has returned from Asia to open a new shop in Trowbridge selling pre-loved clothes and fashion accessories.

Jo Alford lived in Singapore, where she worked in a kindergarten, office and in retailing, before coming home to Wiltshire.

While in Singapore she honed her retailing skills running a friend's fashion wear boutique.

"It gave me the idea for my new store, Jo's Dressing Room," said Mrs Alford.

"I have always loved pre-loved clothes and fashion accessories such as handbags and jewellery.

"I am now selling good quality designer brands from my shop in Church Walk."

Originally from Bristol, Mrs Alford came to Trowbridge with husband Simon, who is a business lecturer at Wiltshire College and University Centre.

They launched the shop on March 1 - only to be hit three weeks later by a lockdown imposed under the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.

"It was devastating," said Jo. "We had worked really hard to get the shop up and running and then we had to close.

"I was quite upset and it was tough to survive but we managed to reopen on June 15."

She and Simon are now "really pleased" with the way things are going.

They are taking in pre-loved clothes, handbags and shoes from customers to sell on a 'sale or return' basis.

Jo's Dressing Room is also selling a range of fashion jewellery and accessories to its growing band of loyal followers.

Customers are coming from Trowbridge, Bradford on Avon, Devizes, Warminster and Westbury, and from as far afield as Bath, Frome and Salisbury.

"A lot of people have come in and said what a great idea. Trowbridge has nothing else like this.

"There's no other fashion stores on this side of town since Monsoon closed down.

"All the other big stores in The Shires shopping centre are selling throw-away women's fashion wear.

"We are selling upmarket designer brands such as Ted Baker, Karen Miller and Zara, as well as handbags by Mulberry and Radley.

"Our style is very classic and people like it. Our handbags are our best seller."