WORK is starting on a new East of England Co-op supermarket in Wickham Market which is expected to create around 20 new jobs.

The 9,000sq ft store is expected to open in autumn next year, with the �3.6million development also including six two-bedroom apartments and a terrace of six two-bedroom houses which will be available to rent.

Roger Grosvenor, the East of England Co-op’s group general manager – trading, said: “We have had a presence in Wickham Market since 1887, and our food store is very much part of village life. Our current store is extremely popular, and we look forward to providing a new, larger, modern store that will offer a bigger, better range of goods for our members and customers, as well as new jobs for local people.”

The new store, designed by David Clarke and Associates of Ipswich and to be built by R G Carter (Ipswich) Ltd, will be of traditional appearance, in keeping with the village. It is being built on the former Jewell car showroom site and will involve the creation of around 20 jobs in addition to the staff employed at the Co-op’s current food store in the High Street.