Merrywalks Shopping Centre has been given a new name by schoolchildren from Stroud.

As part of the major improvement works at the centre the owners, Dransfield Properties Ltd, set the task of finding a new name to several schools across the town.

The new name will be Five Valleys – as chosen by Ivy Rooney aged 10, Archie Gittins aged 7 both from Rosary Catholic Primary School, and Amber Clements aged 7 from Callowell Primary School.

The naming competition was judged by managing director of Dransfield Properties, Mark Dransfield, and the leader of Stroud District Council Cllr Doina Cornell.

The pupils will be presented with their prizes later in the month.

Mr Dransfield said: “We are passionate about engaging with the local communities in which we develop, which has been really well received in the town so far and we were delighted with the response to the naming competition.

“I am delighted for Ivy, Archie and Amber and I think the Five Valleys is a perfectly fitting name for the centre.”

A prize giving ceremony for all three winners will take place at the shopping centre on Thursday, November 29, at 3:30pm.

Earlier this month the second phase of works started on the shopping centre, which will see a new entrance to the centre from King Street, as well as refurbished shop fronts.

A new centre manager, Dionne Moore, has also been appointed, and she brings with ehr retail experience from her previous role at Bicester Village.

Dionne said “It has been great to join the centre at such an exciting time.

"I am really excited for the future of Merrywalks under its new name Five Valleys and its brand new look.”

The redevelopment of the Merrywalks Centre is supported by a £1 million loan and a £3 million grant from GFirst LEP working in partnership with Dransfield Properties.