A BRAND new Lidl has opened its doors in Witney this morning.

Eager customers have already taken their first look inside the supermarket as they browse the bakery, the famous middle aisles and more.

While the store officially opened at 8am, people were allowed in slightly earlier to help space them out on the first day of lockdown.

Read also: Shops set to stay open in lockdown with click-and-collect

By 8.30am a steady stream of customers was filing in, with plenty heading for the middle aisles - where the bargins included a blueetooth sound system, a digital heat gun, thermal ski socks and a coffee machine.

The site, on New Close Lane, is about one-third bigger than Lidl's previous supermarket in Witney, a few hundred metres away in Ducklington Lane.

That closed for the final time last night and the brand's regional head of property, Rachel Hargreaves, expects the new store to be popular.

She said: "Our previous store was trading very well and we wanted to add to the community so we sought to find a larger site for our customers.

"What we're hoping is during these Covid times people will feel they can come to the store and enjoy a better shopping experience.

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"We're very excited and a lot of customers were asking about what was going to happen.

"We've had support from the ward councillors and the MP, so I think it's a very exciting time for Lidl and for Witney as a whole."

Fifteen additional jobs have been created, while all existing employees from the previous site have been retained.

Read also: Where to order food and drink during lockdown 

Meanwhile, it will have baby changing facilities and extra parking for cars and bikes.

Witney town crier Jean Postlethwaite-Dixon helped open the store at 8am and felt the latest lockdown would not deter customers.

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She said: "I'm extremely proud to support Lidl here today.

"It's a great store for Witney, I'm very happy and have been supporting the store for years.

"I expect it will be extremely busy and I think the local community will be really happy that it's here."

Witney resident Kay Elouath, coming in to buy washing powder, added: "I live just down the road so it's perfect to walk up here.

"I'm a Lidl customer so this has been great."

Its opening times will be between 8am and 10pm from Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sunday