STARS of The Only Way is Essex are behind the opening of a new shop in Colchester this weekend.

Minnie's Boutique was opened in Brentwood by Sam and Billie Faiers, sisters in the ITV2 reality show, in 2011.

The new shop at 15, Red Lion Yard, will be the second Minnie's Boutique and opened by the siblings' aunt Libby Low.

It will sell women's clothing, cosmetics from the Minnie’s Boutique line and will include the brand's signature gold and leopard print changing rooms.

To celebrate the opening, Minnie’s Boutique Colchester will be hosting a party at the shop on Saturday.

A team of hair-braiders and make-up artists applying festival-style make up will be on hand and Billie Faiers will officially open the store.

Owner Libby said: “We are really excited for the opening of our second Minnie’s Boutique.

"It has always been our ambition to have more than one store and we feel that after seven years in the business, we know our customer base and their clothing tastes really well.

“We have looked into opening stores in a number of different towns and cities but felt that there was a real gap in the market for a fashionable independent clothing store in Colchester.

"Indeed many visitors to our Brentwood store come from this area of Essex and have said they wish there was something similar in their local area.

“We will be stocking clothes very similar in style to those in our Brentwood store and will continue to cater for women of all ages and all shapes and sizes."

Peter Scopes, shopping centre manager at Lion Walk, said: “We are really excited to welcome Minnie’s Boutique to the shopping centre.

"The brand is well established and popular with shoppers throughout Essex and we know that it will continue to thrive here in Colchester.”

Reality stars Sam and Billie - who now have two children each - have taken a step back from running Minnie's and no longer appear in The Only Way Is Essex, or 'Towie' as it has become known.

They now star in reality show Sam And Billie Faiers: The Mummy Diaries.