SAFEWAY is to open a new store in Salisbury. The national supermarket chain has teamed up with BP to convert the London Road filling station into a new mini supermarket-cum-petrol station.

The BP garage will close on January 20 and reopen three months later offering customers a wide choice of goods and frozen produce as well as petrol.

Salisbury District Council said planning permission had been given for the site to be redeveloped to include a convenience store and a petrol filling station forecourt with a new larger canopy roof.

The car wash facilities are being removed and the office and shop building will be demolished.

The new building will occupy the whole site, including the small grassed area at the rear, and the petrol pumps will be moved to make room for the larger shop.

Existing staff will be kept on and, during the three-month closure, will undergo training with Safeway and BP in readiness for the new business.