A NEW store which had 360 applications for just 13 jobs has opened to the public.

The Tesco Express in Pick-ersleigh Road, Malvern, opened its doors with a charity cheque hand-over for £500 to Community Action Malvern and District.

Jacci Phillips, the charity’s manager, was the guest of honour at the opening and said she was delighted with the cash.

Community Action Malvern and District runs a car service staffed by volunteers to get people who have mobility troubles out and about. There is also a rental service for vehicles with wheelchair access, a door-to-door minibus service to nearby shopping precincts, minibus hire and a grocery shopping service.

Mrs Phillips said: “I would like to thank Tesco for this generous opening donation.

“The money will go towards helping as many older people in Malvern as possible to maintain their independence.”

Store manager Ben Work-man said the company was happy to help a wonderful cause. When store chiefs advertised for jobs through the town’s Jobcentre they were bowled over by the interest and got hundreds of applications.

They eventually whittled down the prospective recruits to 28 interviewees – all local people.

It is not the first time Tesco has proven popular with job-seekers.

In 2009, 200 people applied for 20 jobs when the supermarket firm announced it was opening a new convenience store in Foregate Street, Worcester.

The new Malvern store is now open from 6am to 11pm, seven days a week and has a National Lottery counter, a bakery and is licensed to sell beers, wines and spirits and has two self-service tills.

It also has mobile phone top-up in-store and free customer parking.