IT was certainly an ab fab day for staff at a Fox Valley department store.

The team at Sandersons welcomed back celebrity Joanna Lumley for the launch of the store’s new wellness spa and organics area.

Hundreds of shoppers turned out to meet the star, who took a tour of the award-winning shopping centre with managing director of Dransfield Properties, Mark Dransfield.

Two treatment rooms have been created - with a reception area and access from the main store.

Both the Spa and the Sandersons Organics concept build on the legacy of the store’s founder Deborah Holmes, who died in January.

Deborah was passionate about the importance of the ingredients used in skincare and beauty products as well as appreciating complementary and alternative therapies.

Absolutely Fabulous star Joanna officially opened the north Sheffield retail development in June 2016 when Sandersons was still being built. Deborah Holmes gave Ms Lumley a tour of the site at that time and showed her the vision of the store.

Now she has returned to see that vision come to fruition.

Ms Lumley said: “Opening that spa in memory of Debs and being in Sandersons has been wonderful.”

Mark Dransfield said: “It’s been a proud day for the whole Sandersons team to have the chance to show Joanna Lumley our store and it’s been a wonderful tribute to Debs.”