HUNDREDS of people and one very famous dog joined staff at the new look Waterstones store in York this weekend.

The new shop has relocated from High Ousegate to Coney Street, with a complete redesign taking in two floors, more than 7,000 square feet, about 30,000 books, and a children’s department with play area and slide.

Town Crier Michael Wood heralded the opening of the new shop on Saturday, before an official ribbon-cutting ceremony and welcome from the Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Julie Gunnell.

Children were also greeted by Spot The Dog from the classic children’s books, while adults took advantage of the store’s Cafe W, one of only 12 in the chain’s 278 shops, which offered free coffees over the weekend to celebrate the opening.

Jamie Hanslip, manager, said he hoped the new store “will be a real pleasure to browse, to enjoy with the family and to visit with friends and catch up over a coffee”.

Yesterday, international best-selling Norwegian crime writer Jo Nesbo was at the new store signing copies of his latest book, The Son.