ALDI has carried out a letter drop on the New Mills estate, giving for the first time a firm date for the opening of their long-awaited new store.

Diggers and heavy machinery are currently working around nine hours to day on the site by the Galebreaker factory, on the New Mills Industrial Estate, Leadon Way.

The letters, signed by construction manager Jon Simpson, "on behalf of Aldi Stores" were posted through letterboxes in their neighbouring streets of Bronte Drive and Browning Road on Tuesday morning (March 14).

Aldi previously expressed a wish to open during August, and everything appears to be well on schedule.

Mr Simpson said: "The store will open for trading on Thursday, August 17, 2017."

He added: "I am sure that residents will be aware that the project comprises the construction of a new retail store, amounting to approximately 1200 square metres of retail floor space, together with associated car parking, service areas and soft landscaping."

The store will have a total floor space of 1794 square metres, but clearly not all will be for public use.

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

The Ledbury store will be one of 51 new stores being rolled out by Aldi in the UK between now and late autumn, according to the company's web site, in what can only be viewed as a massive construction programme.

The opening of the Ledbury store will create a major jobs boost for the town, of up to 40 jobs, although vacancies will not be advertised until later this spring .

The construction of the Ledbury store is being managed by Avonside Construction of Fort Parkway, Birmingham.