A HISTORIC town is set to receive a vital jobs bonanza in the height of the global economic turmoil with more than 500 new roles created.

Dave Gooderham

A HISTORIC town is set to receive a vital jobs bonanza in the height of the global economic turmoil with more than 500 new roles created.

The job opportunities within Bury St Edmunds is set to be a massive boost for the whole of west Suffolk at a time when the recession is claiming companies and jobs on an almost daily basis.

Heading the employment opportunities is the new �22million Asda store which will provide 370 new jobs when it opens at the end of March in Western Way.

Bosses said the new store would provide a welcome boost to the county during the current national economic downturn.

Store manager Barry Gramlick said: “I am delighted to bring a new store to Bury and at �22 million this will be one of ASDA's largest community investments this year.

“ASDA is committed to saving our customers more money every day and I am hoping that this will help us become a real focal point for the community.

“With 370 new jobs being created for local people, ASDA will be injecting much needed jobs into the Bury economy and I am eager to listen and learn from the community about what they want from their local ASDA too.”

The town's new multi million pound Arc development, on the site of the town's former Cattle Market, will also create scores of new jobs with 110 in the flagship Debenhams store alone when it opens on March 5.