One of Cumbria's most famous names in business is celebrating moving to a new state-of-the-art site.

Carlisle-based Peter Tyson, which specialises in appliances and audio visual technology, has just completed a huge renovation of the former Thomas Graham base in Shaddongate.

The move to bring their Carlisle operations under one roof marks a £1.5m investment and will bring more than 40 staff together.

The firm previously worked out of city centre stores in Abbey Street and West Tower Street; however, these will now be closed down.

Paul Tyson, a company director, told the News & Star : "They are both on the market.

"We have had some interest but at the moment there's still no deal done."

The family-run firm had operated from Abbey Street for three decades but bosses felt as though they had outgrown it.

The new site will double the amount of floorspace to 10,000sq ft.

The whole business is 50 years old and was founded in 1966.

"This weekend is the official opening," Mr Tyson said.

"We are delighted with the way the building has turned out.

"The feedback from traders who go all over the country is great, they say it's the finest one they've seen in the country."

The Shaddongate area has been the subject of change in recent years with Thomas Graham - one of the city’s oldest and best-known companies - relocating to Kingstown.

It also had another premises across the road from new Peter Tyson site.

It was flattened to make way for supermarket Farmfoods which has since built a new store in its place.

The frozen food firm hunted for new premises for five years.

Mr Tyson said the new larger premises will allow the firm to display more items and show customers they have a wider range of stock than most believe.

It will also provide extra warehouse space for their ever-increasing online sales.

As well as the Carlisle shops, the firm has branches in Workington and Newcastle.

Peter Tyson is open all weekend - including Bank Holiday Monday - to welcome customers into the new store.