THE OPENING date for the city's new Marks and Spencer Foodhall has been announced.

The new shop replaces Lidl on Blackpole Retail Park, in Worcester, and is due to open for the first time at 10am on February 27.

M&S will celebrate the opening by handing out 'golden tickets', which will include offers for vouchers and gift cards, to the first 200 customers through the store's doors.

Andrew Ling, the shop's manager, said: “Worcester Blackpole is a fantastic location for our new Simply Food store.

"I’m delighted to offer the Worcester customer the opportunity to enjoy our fantastic food range with the benefit of 400 plus car parking spaces on the retail park.

"My team and I are really excited about our new store. We’ll be working hard to provide outstanding service for the community and the new Foodhall will offer all the everyday essentials, as well as seasonal inspiration and innovation.

"Cutting the ribbon and welcoming customers in for the first time will be a great moment for the team and I hope lots of local residents will pop down and join us.

"Customers will also be able to shop for M&S’s full clothing and home collections via M&S.com and using our click and collect service."

Mr Ling will work with 40 colleagues at the store. 30 per cent of these employees already worked for M&S, while 70 per cent were specifically hired to work at the store.

Havercroft Construction Limited started building work at the site on August 20 and the project was due to last 12 weeks.

City councillor Jo Hodges, who represents the area, previously said: "I have mixed feelings about it.

"From one point of view it's good news, it gives people in the area an opportunity to shop at M&S without having to travel into town - bringing a car or having to use public transport.

"It will become like a local shop in the same way the Lidl up there has become a local shop.

"You used to think of trips to the supermarket as a once a week event. But it becomes your local shop when it's so close.

"From the aspect of choice for people who live in the area, I'm happy about it. It will be an employment boost too."

The store will be open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 8pm and on Sunday between 10.30am and 4.30pm.