UP TO 50 jobs at a new Aldi supermarket in Oxford will be advertised to local people.

The discount chain plans to build its second store in the city and is currently consulting residents to gauge public support.

The move comes after the company said its Botley Road supermarket had drawn a lot of customers from the south-eastern area of the city.

Aldi property director Phillip Warner said: “We are delighted to announce plans to open a store off Horspath Driftway.

“We know many local people make the journey to our Botley store and the plans would make it much easier for local people to shop and save with Aldi.

“It would be a convenient, modest-sized neighbourhood store offering mainly own label brands, which could save people up to 30 per cent on their weekly shop. Over the coming weeks we will be reviewing the comments provided in response to our community leaflet before finalising a planning application.”

Mr Warner added: “The store would create up to 50 new jobs, and we would actively seek to recruit local people to fill these positions.”

The new shop would replace an existing branch of Currys off Horspath Driftway and serve people on the Wood Farm and Lye Valley estates. Leaflets have been delivered describing the German-based company’s proposals.

It will have a sales area of 906 square metres and 55 parking spaces.

The discount store would provide strong competition for other supermarket chains in south-east Oxford.

A planning application will be submitted to Oxford City Council before Christmas.