Monkey puppets and handbags are now a firm fixture in Huntingdon, after a new store opened its doors.

Urban Country, in Chequers Court, is home to an array of colourful puppets, toys, and stylish handbags, and, after just days of selling, it looks to have won over shoppers.

“It’s more niche, more creative, and that’s very much our focus,” store owner, Tim Lockey, told The Hunts Post.

“It was a hard sell explaining to the landlords what we were trying to do, but it works and we’ve had a number of people who have come in with children and have gone out with a purse and a puppet.”

Mr Lockey set up Urban Country Bags four years ago, and now sells toys and puppets alongside his colourful leather and felt satchels, holdalls, and handbags.

The new store, which took three weeks to fit, has also brought five new jobs to the area when it opened its doors on October 27.

“I looked at a lot of towns within an hour’s drive time of Hitchin and a lot of them seem to be in terminal decline,” Mr Lockey added.

“Our nearest big town is Stevenage and most of the business there is going to the out of town rather than the shopping centre, and it’s seriously over-shopped. With the development that’s happening here, it just seems to be more buoyant and more positive.”

Julia White, a member of staff, said: “Customers love it. They love the difference.”

To find out more about Urban Country, pop into the store or log on to www.urbancountrybags.com.