The co-founder of a new Chester charity has been chosen as the local hero who will officially open Chester’s newest B&M store this weekend.

Jemma Gregory from Hoole was hand-picked from dozens of nominations to cut the ribbon at the new store which replaces the former Tesco Home Plus on Chester Retail Park this Saturday (May 23).

Jemma founded the charity SPACE, an organisation dedicated to providing specialist drop-in play sessions in the Chester area for children with additional needs or life-limiting conditions, with her friend Claire Edge, who nominated her for the honour.

She described Jemma as being ‘the backbone’ of the charity, which has the ultimate aim of providing a multi-sensory play area for children with special needs.

Claire said: “We now have fortnightly meetings where families are supporting each other, something that families like ours have never had. “Jemma is the mum of a child with special needs as well as two other children and is also a trustee of another charity which is related to her daughter’s condition where she organises family get aways.

“She gives everything her all and I would just like to say a massive thank you so what better way than to do it than publicly, myself and all the families she has helped? I truly believe she deserves it,” she added.

Jemma said: “I am really honoured to have been nominated by the parents of Space. This is a great opportunity for the charity and the generous donation of vouchers will be a big help to the group.”

Finishing touches are being made to the new B&M store, which is due to open at 9am. It will be Chester’s third B&M store, joining existing branches in the Forum Shopping Centre and Caldy Valley Retail Park.

Tesco Home Plus closed its doors on March 15 after five years, as one of 43 ‘unprofitable’ shops Tesco were shutting down.

You can read more about Jemma's story here .