Asda set to open town store

A new Asda store selling homeware, clothes and jewellery will open its doors in Wednesbury, creating around 70 new jobs.

The Asda Living branch will not sell any food.

The chain will be filling a unit at Gallagher Retail Park in Axletree Way, near Junction 9 of the M6, close to the new-look Currys megastore and Ikea. It is due to open in the autumn.

The announcement of a new branch comes after Asda said it would be recruiting 7,000 new members of staff across the country this year.

The country's first Asda Living store opened in Walsall in 2004, costing £2 million.

Jobs at the new Wednesbury store are already being advertised for back-of-house staff, merchandisers, a George clothing assistant and service desk staff at the store, through Jobcentre Plus. Wednesbury councillor Elaine Costigan said: "This is absolutely great. I go to Asda Living in Walsall and this is what the town lacks.

"There's so many people despondent about the town and we want Wednesbury to thrive. Whatever jobs it creates is a bonus, I'm thrilled to bits."

Across the UK, Asda will open nine new food stores and five Asda Living outlets, including Wednesbury.