Jobs joy as £30m store opens

A new flagship Morrisons store opened its doors in the Black Country today, creating more than 300 jobs in the region.

The £30 million supermarket in Wood Street, Willenhall, welcomed its first shoppers this morning. The store has been several years in the pipeline and sits on the site of the former Yale lockworks that employed thousands in its heyday.

It was pulled down at the start of last year and workers have been on site ever since building the 78,671 sq ft supermarket, which also has a petrol station and a 541-space car park. The Mayor of Walsall, councillor John O'Hare, was invited to mark the opening of the store at 9am.

It is the 423rd Morrisons to open and it is hoped the store will kickstart the regeneration of the town.

Personnel manager Kay Morgan said: "There's been a fantastic response and a great turn out today. We're looking forward to being part of the community in Willenhall for years to come."