Two Coalville area sites have been part of a £1.8 million Central England Co-op investment in Leicestershire this year - despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Throughout the year the Society has opened eight new food stores - including one at Donington Le Heath and a revamped shop in Thringstone.

A funeral booking office was also launched in Castle Donington.

The new Oak Tree Corner store in Donington Le Heath offers shoppers an expansive range of products and is fitted out with pioneering new energy efficient refrigeration technologies and LED lighting to minimise environmental impact, while being powered by 100 per cent renewable energy.

It also includes a free water refill station, phone charging area, indoor and outdoor seating and customer toilets.

Links have also been forged with the local community via inviting Hugglescote Community Primary School to design a special piece of artwork that has been installed on the outside of the store.

Store Manager Jonathan Bird said: "All of us here at Central England Co-operative food stores across our trading area are proud to be part of such great communities and are looking forward to welcoming all customers, old and new, to come and enjoy our new and revamped food stores."

Despite a challenging 12 months as the Society's funeral colleagues supported families in these uncertain times, Central England Co-op did invest in two new funeral booking offices, including one in Castle Donington.

Funeral Director Kate Spencer said: "Our first priority is to enhance memories and love for all of our families, and we are very pleased to offer that at our new funeral booking offices.

"We feel they reflect our commitment to providing excellent standards of care for our families during their time of bereavement."

The Central England Co-op funeral booking offices and homes offer a 24-hour service, seven days a week.

The work throughout 2020 has been part of an ambitious development programme across the Society's food and funeral business, with further investment planned during 2021.