Agricultural supplies company Patch & Acre in Helston marked the opening of its new store with a family fun day on Saturday, on the Cornwall Farmers' site.
Pupils from nearby St Michael's School, who have been working with Cornwall Farmers on a mural competition, joined store manager Mark Cole in a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10.30am.
As part of St Michael's curriculum, children from each year group were invited to design a mural for the outside wall of Cornwall Farmers' new-look branch.
Puipils Leah (year one), Samual and Charlotte (reception class), James (year five), Harrison (year three), Kaydi (reception) and Madeleine (year four) were selected as winners of their classes. Their artwork will be added to the store later this year.
Teacher Suzanne Bray said: “The children rose to the occasion with this project and produced superb designs for Patch & Acre. Leading the store opening was a fantastic way to celebrate their achievements.”
Hundreds of customers and members of the local community attended the event, which featured a bouncy castle, face painting, a rodeo sheep, and animals including chickens, sheep and ponies.
The launch marked the fourth Patch & Acre opening in Cornwall Farmers' £2.3 million investment programme, which will see a number of stores across Cornwall and Devon refurbished by March 2015.
Simon Birch, chief executive of Cornwall Farmers, said: “Our turnaround plan is gaining strong momentum with tangible results. The revamped Patch & Acre stores have exceeded trading expectations and we are confident we will see the same level of success at our Helston outlet.”
Helston's Patch & Acre will be open seven days a week, from 8am to 6pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sunday. The store offers something for everyone who lives and loves the country life with products for the farm, stable, country life, farmhouse, pets and the garden.
In store, a new farm services desk will be dedicated to the agricultural needs of farmers and smallholders. Alongside this, customers will find a larger gardening machinery showroom and an improved garden centre area outside the store.
Cornwall Farmers employs around 200 staff and has other stores including Truro and Penzance.
The investment is being part-funded through a £920,000 grant from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership, funded by the Government's Regional Growth Fund.
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