Corks are popping on Chapel Street as “Petersfield’s littlest department store” is five years old.

Hector’s was borne out of lockdown as Joe and Michelle Bicknell aren’t good at sitting on their hands.

But it’s now truly locked in and a firm part of the town’s retail scene, having expanded and increased its range during half a decade of trade.

The pair and their staff brought out the bubbly on Saturday to mark the milestone with Hector’s cupcakes also being served up to weekend visitors.

Mr Bicknell said: “The idea spawned in lockdown and before we knew it it was July, we were ordering stock, negotiating leases and we opened on August 1.

“We were anticipating more lockdowns but the second was perfectly timed because it gave us time to breathe.

“When people pop in now they don’t realise there’s a lot more than menswear as there’s ladies and homeware.

“We have 3,500 square feet now and we like to think of it as a little department store, although we’re an escalator away from that.”

Hectors carried the torch from the previous Frasers shop in originally focusing on menswear, but its scope grew when it expanded into the former Sports Locker unit next door. While menswear dominates the front of the store, it now offers suit hire, footwear, a Joules range, women’s clothing and gift products.

Mr Bicknell added: “Giftware has been the biggest addition we’ve done in the last 18 months.

“I think there’s a lot of people in Petersfield that now don’t go anywhere else when it comes to buying gifts. Whereas they might have gone to Winchester, Portsmouth or Chichester before they’re now buying gifts here.”

There’s also a strong focus on stocking British products, as the Bicknells “spend a lot of time” sourcing as locally as possible.