investment in commercial properties in Cwmbran is set to give shoppers a dream start to stocking up for Christmas.

Two stores in the town have opened up their newly refurbished premises.

And next year work is expected to begin on the former Asda store in the town centre.

Kwik Save on Llantarnam Road opened the doors to their refurbished store on Thursday.

The £1 million new-look store offers a range of new lines for its customers including a newly developed fresh foods department, fresh deli, a selection of hot and cold foods from around the world, fresh sandwiches and curries-to-go.

The store also has a new non-food department which stocks top lines in TV, DVD, video and stereo.

On the same day a new-look Marks & Spencer store was launched in Cwmbran town centre.

Over the past six weeks, £250,000 has been invested in the South Walk store to give it a sparkling new, contemporary look.

And during the week Gerry Hutchings, manager of Cwmbran Shopping, said work is expected to start redeveloping the former Asda store at the southern end of the complex next spring.

The property, vacant since Asda moved to a new 85,000 sq. ft store built as part of a £14 million investment, is expected to undergo a £5 million makeover in the near future.

The refurbishment is expected to lead the creation of seven individual units in a shopping mall with the total net shopping space being 85,000 sq. ft.

Mr Hutchings said: "We had planning permission to redevelop the vacant Asda store eight or nine months ago. We are having on-going negotiations with retailers. We hope to hope to begin redevelopment in the spring."