A TYNE Valley flooring specialist firm enlisted the help of a world record holder athlete to launch its new store.

Prudhoe-based Floorscope has expanded its operations by opening a new retail outlet on Gosforth’s high street, and was joined by Olympic gold medallist triple jumper Jonathan Edwards at its launch event.

With more than 20 years’ experience in the flooring market, Floorscope has enjoyed a sustained period of growth and was in a position to add a store to its popular Prudhoe base.

Phil Nordmann, the firm’s managing director, said “This is an exciting development for us.

“Gosforth high street has a fantastic reputation for its thriving and local retail market with a great balance of local businesses and high street brands.

“We pride ourselves delivering a seamless customer service and offering value for money in a specialist market and we are very much looking forward to supplying our wide range of world-class flooring brands to a vibrant and buoyant local residential and high street market place.

“With the increase in footfall and passing trade we are looking forward to welcoming customers to our new premises and working with other retailers and businesses in the local community.”

John Spreadbury, Floorscope’s non-executive chairman, added that the firm had plans for further expansion to build on its reputation in Prudhoe and the surrounding areas.