More than 140 jobs in store at supermarket

The store will re-open on March 27 and by then it will have doubled in size and created more than 140 jobs.

Manager Steve Chamberlain said he was very excited about the opening next Thursday.

"It is going to be a fantastic new store and I am really looking forward to the opening. It has been really hard work for six months," he said.

The store originally estimated that 70 jobs would be created but this figure has now doubled.

"Most people want to work part time so we have taken on 122 people so far which is far more than we anticipated. We are still looking for another 20 to 30 people," said Mr Chamberlain.

The new store will have a larger range of products and several new departments.

The most original feature will be a Comfy Caf with settees and upmarket food. "There are only six of it's kind in the UK. It is a really cosy area with lazy chairs and there will also be space for trolleys. It will be serving food like paninis and coffees," said Mr Chamberlain.

Two new clothing departments will be introduced for children and adults as well as an extensive homeware area. "There will also be an electrical department and an entertainment centre with a massive selection of videos, DVDs and CDs," added Mr Chamberlain.

The range of food will also be expanded with a new salad bar, chicken rotisserie and an enlarged deli, bakery and fish and meat counter. The store will also be subsidising extra services, including a dry cleaners, a photographic service and a pharmacy.

"There will be nothing like it in the region," Mr Chamberlain said.

The only original features in the building will be the floor and ceiling and even these are being re-polished and repainted. The tills and shelves will also be ripped out and replaced.

Once it reopens, the store's opening hours will be extended. It will open 7am until 11pm during the week, 7am until 10pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.