THE first book shop to open in Hay-on-Wye since 2014 has opened its doors to literature lovers.

Green Ink Booksellers opened on High Town on October 25 and stocks a range of books with a focus on philosophy, history and literature.

The shop began life as an online store before owners Josh, 37, and Ellen Boyd Green, 31, put their dream of opening a book shop in Hay into action.

The duo previously ran a second hand bookshop in Melbourne, Australia, before moving to Hay to realise their dream.

Ellen Boyd Green said: "We’re really excited to be moving back into the “real world” of bookselling. Hay has such an incredible community of small businesses and it will be great to have a public face amongst them. Online selling will of course continue to have a place but there is nothing that quite matches the joy of browsing and the discovery and connection that are possible with a physical shop.

"The magic of running a bookshop is being able to talk to customers face to face and share in the moments people discover a treasure that is new to them. The love for books and the stories that they contain both on the page and as objects that have had journeys of their own is why we became second hand booksellers.”

Andrew Williams, Chair of the Hay Chamber of Commerce, added: "The arrival of Green Ink Booksellers in the heart of the town is a landmark event for Hay. It underlines our commitment as a town to the written word, and is a huge vote of confidence in the bookselling future of Hay on Wye."

He added: "We hope that Ellen and Josh’s new venture will mark the beginning of a renaissance in bookselling in Hay, which is after all the spiritual home of the book shop.”