COMPETITION winner Molly Haynes cut the ribbon at the new Sainsbury’s superstore in Cowley as it opened yesterday.

The eight-year-old pupil from Mabel Prichard School in Blackbird Leys won a contest to have her drawing of shoppers put on the store’s bags for life.

Mum Claire, from Rose Hill, said: “She was so excited all night, she calls this her shop.”

The Templars Retail Park outlet marks the return of Sainsbury’s to Cowley. Its store at Cowley Centre closed in 2000.

Betty Aspel, 72, of Tucker Road, Blackbird Leys, was first through the door at the former B&Q unit – which has created 134 jobs – as it opened at 9am.

She said: “It is a lot more convenient, it is a lot easier – my husband won’t have to drive me.”

The store includes a bakery, delicatessen, cash machine and non-food goods, such as CDs.

It has eight tills with cashiers and 10 self-service points.

The store shares 470 parking spaces with six other retailers, including Halfords and Asda Living, and 12 cycle racks will be fitted in the coming days.

New employees include Claire Miller, who gave up work to look after her children for nine years and has been looking for a new job for the past three years.

The 34-year-old Rose Hill mum-of-three said: “It has been hard, this was my first interview I have had in three years after more than 50 applications.

“I am proud of myself, I am a excited but nervous.”

Store manager Lewis Pancott, who transferred from the Westgate Centre store, said: “We are delighted to be bringing Sainsbury’s back to the area.”

Chris White, deputy manager of greengrocer Stokes, in Templars Square Shopping Centre, opposite the retail park, said: “It did seem to survive with Sainsbury’s being here before.”

Sandra Bell, manager of the Shaw Trust charity shop, said: “It is going to bring more people to the centre.”