IT will be an exciting time for many retailers when they are finally able to open up again on Monday.

None more so than the team at Lifestyle and Mobility who will be starting life after lockdown in new premises at the Sovereign Centre in Boscombe.

New owners took over the business in the first lockdown last year and carried on trading from the previous premises in Westbourne until now.

Director Darren Macey said: "We are absolutely delighted to be opening up once again, but in a new, much bigger home. It is great for our customers and for us. These are exciting time for us.

"The new store is going to be very different, modern, not what you would typically expect from a mobility store, interactive, with space to move around and even the ability to customise your own designs with our digital touch screens.

"We are also very pleased to have been able to relocate to the Sovereign Centre, which is very convenient for our customers - parking and accessibility is very important for our customers.

Lifestyle and Mobility offers quality equipment at low prices with the best possible level of service.

The store stocks hundreds of mobility products and aids to help make life easier for you whether you have restricted movement, are disabled or elderly - or simply want to make a lifestyle change.

There are specialist beds and chairs and also a range of e-bikes and e-scooters on sale in the family-owned business which one of the very few in the area to be Motability accredited.

Five expert members of staff are on hand to help and advise clients.

Darren added: "We are really looking to change the perspective on what a traditional mobility shop is all about.

"That's why we are called Lifestyle and Mobility. A lot of what we offer is about lifestyle and in many ways help people regain that little bit more freedom and independence.

"I think the last 12 months have also given people time to think about how they live their lives and about positive changes they might want to make. We can help with that."

Darren said the recent lockdown had given the company the opportunity to plan for the new store, think of new ideas and initiatives and also to develop an even stronger online presence which is hugely important in the sector.

"It has been a tough and challenging year for everyone but now I feel we have lots of cause for optimism and we hope our customers will feel so too. We are very much looking forward to welcoming them to the new store."