SUPERMARKET giant Tesco has bought the Dillons newsagents and convenience store chain, which has three branches in Malvern.

Dillons is part of the T&S Group, which owns 862 One Stop and Day & Night convenience stores across the West Midlands, as well as the Supercigs discount tobacco outlets.

The three Malvern branches are in Barnards Green Road, Pick-ersleigh Road and Poolbrook Road.

Tesco has announced it wants to convert many of the One Stop and Day & Night stores into Tesco Express outlets over the next four years.

However, it says it plans to sell the Dillons and Supercigs shops on, as soon as it finds a suitable buyer.

Earlier this year, Tesco refused to rule out reviving its plans to build a full-scale supermarket in Barnards Green.

The company planned to build there in the 1990s, but its scheme was refused permission in 1997, the same time as the Waitrose plan was approved.

However, the company still has options on plots of land at Barnards Green, and is still looking at the possibilities.