OLYMPIC rugby silver medallist Sam Cross will be guest of honour to open Ledbury's new Aldi supermarket, next week.

And the first thirty customers through the door will each get a shopping bag of fresh fruit and vegetables, as a good will gesture by the store.

Aldi Store manager, Olivia Knight said: “The excitement has really been building within the new team.

“The team and I are also thrilled to have an Olympic medallist, particularly Sam come to open the store as rugby is well loved in the area - I know there’s a few on our team who’ll be tapping him up for advice.”

Mr Cross added: "I’m really looking forward to opening the store and meeting members of the local community on the day."

The 24-year-old Team GB star, who won a coveted silver medal at the Rio Olympics, will perform the ribbon cutting ceremony at 8am, on Thursday, August 17.

News of the store's opening has been warmly welcomed by Ledbury people, although some called for an even larger store in the future.

Posting on the Voice of Ledbury Facebook site, resident Martin Dudley said: "Given the number of new properties to be built over the foreseeable future, the need for a much larger supermarket increases. Until then Aldi is a very welcome addition that will serve Ledbury well."

Resident Jodie Addis called the news "brilliant" and she added: "I have a one year old and Aldi nappies are the only ones I like and are so cheap. It's great that I can now just walk down the road for my shopping."

And resident Kim Williams said: "With my Mum being German, I used to visit Aldi when I went over to see her in Germany. I loved it then and I love it now. I think it's going to be good for Ledbury as a cheaper option and there will be choice for Ledbury's increasing population."

The new store, at Leadon Way, on the New Mills Industrial Estate, comes with both parking and job opportunities.

An Aldi spokesman said: "Customers will benefit from 113 car parking spaces and 1,254 square metres of retail space.

"In a welcome boost for the local economy, 15 new jobs have been created with the store launch, and Aldi is still recruiting for a variety of roles in the area. Jobs of all levels are available from Store Apprentices to Deputy Store Managers. Information and applications on all roles at Aldi can be found via www.aldirecruitment.co.uk/stores."