SUPERMARKET chain Asda wants to build a store in Prestwich, if there was a suitable location.

Store bosses held a recent exhibition in the town to judge the level of interest for a new supermarket and discovered shoppers liked the idea.

They returned to set up a stall at the Prestwich Showcase last week and were inundated with inquiries about jobs and training.

But the only thing holding them back from drawing up plans for a new Prestwich store is the lack of appropriate sites.

Claire Healey, property communications manager for Asda, said: "We would love to have a store in Prestwich but it is a long-term view at the moment. We have met with Bury Council and they have said there is nowhere that stands out at the moment as a suitable site.

She said the on-going development of Prestwich, with the arrival of Marks and Spencer and the Richardson project, had helped the decision.

She said: "Our scientific research has identified Prestwich as a good location for us and it is high up on our list."