A Bristol card shop chain has won a national retailing award.

The Retas recognise the best greeting card shops in the UK.

Thoughts Cards, which opened its first branch in Cabot Circus last year, won the Reta for Best Greeting card newcomer.

The awards were presented at a glittering ceremony at London's Dorchester Hotel.

Thoughts Cards director, Mathew Llewellyn, 26, from Newport, said: "Needless to say we were overjoyed when the announcement finally came and overwhelmed to a certain extent at the amount of support we were shown from everyone there.

" It makes all of the stress and hard work all worthwhile.

"It now makes going forward with the expansion of the business all the more exciting."

Thoughts Cards opened its first store at Cabot Circus in September 2008 followed in November by another branch at The Mall, Cribbs Causeway.

Two more stores have opened this year at The Bullring, Birmingham, and in Touchwood, Solihull.

In October Thoughts Cards plans to open a fifth store in Cardiff.