A new store in Nelson will help Morrisons create more than 3,500 jobs, the company said today.

The Nelson store, which will employ around 300 people, is taking shape on the Seedhill Mill site of former textile firm J B Battye.

The mill was demolished last year to make way for the superstore which is scheduled to open in the autumn.

It will include underground and ground level parking for 570 cars and a petrol station built on a corner site across Pendle Street.

It is one of four stores to be opened by Morrisons this year creating 1,500 new jobs, while a further 2,000 will be created at shops planned to open next year.

Bradford-based Morrisons has been steadily extending its network of stores around the UK in recent years, opening 10 last year.

As well as Nelson, this year's new stores will be at Letchworth in Hertfordshire, Norwich and Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire.

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