TWO shop workers who lost their jobs when the Ely branch of Julian Graves closed down have bounced back less than a week later by opening their own business.

Teresa Drever and Lisa Butterfield opened the doors of their new health-food shop Nuts & Stuff Ely, on Newnham Street, just five days after they were made redundant from their old jobs.

The duo made the decision to go it alone after hearing before Christmas that their shop might be facing closure.

Theresa, who lives in Stretham, said she was delighted to have taken the plunge: “A lot of our former customers were so surprised that we were closing Julian Graves and we knew there was definitely a market for health foods in Ely so we thought ‘why not?’

“It is certainly scary but exciting too, we certainly won’t fail through lack of trying. We just want to give it a go, it is something we both enjoy doing.”

The new shop, which stocks a variety of herbs, spices, nuts, fruit, snacks and health foods has moved into the premises vacated by The Gift Box. The news comes just a week after the Ely Standard reported that Millets, on Market Place, was also due to close, leaving the city’s commercial centre looking increasingly bleak.

There was some good news for the city centre this week when Bonmarche announced that its Ely branch is one of around 230 stores to remain open under their new owners, Sun European Partners.

The store in Ely will continue to employ 10 members of staff. Sun European Partners also owns the Irisa group, Jacques Vert, American Golf, SCS Sofas, Lee Cooper, Scotch and Soda.

Tina Harley, manager at Bonmarche, Ely said: “Staff are thrilled with the news that we are remaining open. We would like to extend a special thanks to all our customers for their support and messages of encouragement over the last few weeks.”