The Sainsbury's store at Bridgemead has matched the efforts of Swindon's Tesco store by becoming the biggest of its kind in the South West.

In a hectic six-day revamp this week costing £4 million, a new extension has been built to increase shopfloor space from 36,000 square feet to 53,000 square feet.

The store now dwarfs its counterpart at Stratton St Margaret, but is still smaller than Tesco's 65,000 square feet Ocotal Way store.

But both will seem small in comparison to a new 150,000 square foot hypermarket which Asda-Walmart plans to build in North Swindon by the end of next year.

The Bridgemead store will re-open tomorrow with an extra 100 staff on the books.

The 10-year-old store has been gutted to allow a kitchen, bakery and restaurant to be built and will become the latest supermarket in the town to be open 24 hours a day, from 8am on Monday until 10pm on Saturday. It now boasts a 'Food to Go' counter, where shoppers can pick up hot chickens and ribs, a new salad bar, meat counter, electrical and cook shop and a new children's clothing range.

The petrol station also has six new pumps, bringing the total number to 18, and boasts a brand new car wash, jet wash and shop. It will also open 24 hours a day.

Eight-year-old autism sufferer, Matthew Pembridge, who became the focus of a charity appeal at the store last year and was featured in the Adver, will cut the tape at tomorrow's official opening at 9am.

He will be joined by store manager Robin Ireland and five members of staff who witnessed the original opening 10 years ago.

Mr Ireland said: "We feel we will provide the best food offer in Swindon now. We have 5,000 new lines, a great new team and brilliant facilities that will be open 24 hours a day."