Abingdon's new Aldi supermarket is expected to open before the end of the year, it has emerged.

Construction work on the new budget store in Wootton Road is moving forward and the chain said it could be ready to open by December.

Last year Vale councillors approved plans for the new Aldi after 290 residents wrote in to support the plans.

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Previous objections to the budget supermarket included concerns over the location of the shop, and a suggestion that it should be located instead at Fairacres retail park off Marcham Road.

Fairacres is where rival budget chain Lidl opened a new store in April last  year.

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An Aldi spokesman said: "Construction for our new Abingdon store is progressing well as we move towards opening in December.

"This will create up to 40 jobs for the community and enable local people to shop and save closer to home."

Construction workers on site said the store could be open by the end of the year.

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It will be convenient for residents living at the 200-home new Kings Gate estate opposite.

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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF