NUTRITIONAL fast food chain Leon is expected to open from Wednesday in Cornmarket Street in Oxford.

Set over two floors with over 130 seats, it will have a play area and library for children, stocked with books from Oxfam.

Diners can try dishes that have been on the menu since the first branch opened in London in 2004, including the Moroccan meatball hotbox, the fish finger wrap, and the original super salad.

The décor will feature an original paper cut by artist Helen Musselwhite to celebrate the Leon story, and there will also be portraits of Leon suppliers taken by Harry Borden, former winner of the World Press Photo Awards.

The opening will take the total number of Leons to 42, and to celebrate staff from the chain will be cycling around the city handing out vouchers.

Chief executive officer John Vincent said: "We make naturally fast food that tastes good, does you good and is kind to the planet.

"Oxford is a city where you study, work and play hard.

"We want to be there when you need us so you can get on with all of that.

"This will be one of our biggest, most family-friendly sites."

The new restaurant, on the site of the former HMV store, has created 30 jobs and will provide seating for 136 customers.

It will open from 7am to 10pm Monday to Saturday, and 8am to 9pm on Sunday and will offer a 15 per cent discount to students and NHS staff.

The opening of Leon follows the opening of Japanese chain Wasabi earlier this month on the other side of Cornmarket.