New haunt for gaming enthusiasts

A table top war games fanatic has turned his hobby into a business opening a shop for fellow gamers in Stourbridge.

Married father-of-two Martyn Shipley, of Bath Road, Quarry Bank, has been playing Dungeons & Dragons style games for more than 30 years. It is a passion shared by thousands and the 41-year-old is hoping to attract many of them through the doors of his specialist new shop called Invasion Games which opened over the weekend.

The former Pets Corner in Court Street, Stourbridge, has been transformed into a war gamers heaven with miniature armies lining the shelves and a purpose built gaming table on site for people to take part in fantasy battles in the shop.

Mr Shipley, who also works at a printing shop, said: "I first got into this as a hobby when I was 9. It is now my aim to turn my long time hobby into a business. It is nerve-wracking, but I have been doing it part time from the open air market in Stourbridge already and it has gone well.

The old pet shop became available and it was an opportunity not to be missed."

The shop will open from 11.30am to 5pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays and 9am to 5pm on Saturdays. It will be closed on Wednesdays and Sundays.

War Machine, Hordes, Dungeons & Dragons, Flames of War, Star Wars Miniatures and World of Warcraft are some of the titles on offer at the shop which opened on Saturday.