WEST End star Emma Hatton cut the ribbon to officially open the new shop for Great Oaks Hospice in her home town of Coleford.

The shop has been moved to larger premises in Mushet Walk from St John’s Street.

Emma, who starred in the hit musical Wicked, said she was “honoured and humbled” to be asked to officially open the new shop.

The chairman of Great Oaks, Mr Ceri Evans, said: “It’s a really good move for us – just what we need in the centre of Coleford.

“The shops provide an important part of the income for the hospice and we get a lot of support from local people.”

Emma is currently concentrating on her passion for jazz and blues and sang in two sell-out concerts in London recently.

She heads out to Hong Kong next month and she is working on her second EP which is due for release early next year.