IF you have walked down Botley Road in the past six months you will know who this man is.

Seven months ago Ambrose Emmanuel walked on to the new Waitrose site for the first time.

After hundreds of selfies, cards and visits from newborn babies he has become an Oxford legend and will open the store on Thursday.

The 39-year-old security guard has been such a hit with commuters that the supermarket chain has asked him to open the new store as a thankyou.

The Nigerian-born security guard, who moved to England nine years ago, has received cards, requests for selfies and even had mothers bring their babies to see him outside the new store.

He said: “There are challenges with a site like this by the road and lots of heavy vehicles coming.

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“I have just been friendly and happy to people coming past. It’s part of my life I am always so happy.

“I greet everyone who walks past. If they don’t talk back first time I will do it again when they come home from work.

“Eventually people stop and talk to you. I often see them smiling from a long way off when they see me.”

The Nigerian-born Carter Construction worker has been living in Barton for the past seven months and hopes to stay in Oxford, possibly with Waitrose.

He said: “I like living in Barton and want to stay in Oxford. The people have been very friendly.

“I would love to work for Waitrose but I will have to see.”

The 24,500 sq ft store complete with 90-seat café is set to open on Thursday at 8am.

Mr Emmanuel will open Waitrose’s third Oxford store with Deputy Lord Mayor Colin Cook.

The security guard said: “I was the first on site, have watched it take shape and met great people along the way.”

In a container on the site is a box full of letters and thankyou cards from passers by.

One women chatted to Ambrose every day in her pregnancy. When she gave birth in August she brought the baby and a card to see him.

It read: “Thanks for giving us a smile every morning when we went to work.

“We are really happy that you will stay longer and see Rocko grow up.”

Branch manager for the Botley Road store Greg Porter said: “Ambrose has worked incredibly hard and is always happy to help and greet people with a smile.

“He has proved such a hit with residents that we have even seen people ask to have their photos taken with him.

He added: “He was the first person to be on the site and has kept everything in order, with his enthusiasm for his job never waning.”

The store will open from 8am to 9pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.