ALDI has re-affirmed its intention to open a store in Ledbury "as soon as possible", in 2017.

And the supermarket giant is advising local people to keep an eye on its careers website, so that employment opportunities can be spotted as soon as they are posted.

A spokesman for the company said: “Aldi is committed to opening a store in Ledbury as soon as possible, given the support of both residents and Herefordshire Council.

"Planning permission was awarded in September and we intend to construct and open a fully operational food store in 2017.”

Ledbury Town Council voted in support of Aldi's application, back in April, 2016, but the final decision lay with Herefordshire Council.

In 2012, Herefordshire Council had opposed a planning application from Sainsbury's for a larger store on the same site.

But the recommendation to approve the Aldi application was passed by eleven votes to four, at a meeting of the county's planning committee, in Shire Hall, on Wednesday, September 14, last year.

The Aldi spokesman said: "Those residents interested in the employment opportunities should check our careers website closer to the time of the store’s opening."

The food store, on the New Mills industrial estate, off Ledbury bypass, will offer a floor space of around 1794 sq metres.

It will also offer 109 associated car parking spaces and a minimum 10 external cycle parking spaces.

The store is expected to create at least 35 new jobs.

At the time of going to press, jobs for the Ledbury store were still to be advertised, and no date had yet been given for the opening of the new supermarket.