SUPERMARKET firm Aldi is planning to open its new store in Thornbury this June.

The German retail chain this week finally broke its silence over its plans for the town's former Somerfield store, which closed last November with the loss of 40 jobs.

For almost three months the firm has been refusing to confirm or deny it was even planning to move into the empty premises in the St Mary shopping centre.

The town has been suffering from the loss of its main town centre food store.

It was left to shopping centre owners Peer Group to reassure anxious community leaders and traders that Aldi was definitely coming, but was legally gagged by a confidentiality clause imposed by Somerfield.

The firm confirmed this week that the new store was on its way and would employ approximately 12 to 15 full time equivalent members of staff.

"Aldi is delighted to announce that it will be opening a new store in Thornbury at the beginning of the summer,' said a spokesman. The Thornbury store will be the eighth Aldi store in the Bristol and South Gloucestershire area."

She said Aldi would be investing heavily in upgrading and refurbishing the store to create "an attractive, high quality shopping environment".

Planning permission would be required only for alterations to signage, for which an application would be submitted shortly.

The new store will have a sales area of 1,274 square metres and 43 parking spaces and will offer Aldi's full range of more than 1,000 grocery lines.

All products will be sourced by its UK based buying team and virtually all will be own brand.

The store will also offer themed "Special Buys", changing weekly and featuring products ranging from computers and DVD players to clothing and homewares, as well as seasonal lines.

Richard Williams, Aldi's regional property director, said: "Our grocery offer will be very different to that of the stores already in Thornbury and will provide local residents with more choice, offering quality, award winning products at outstanding value for money prices, on their doorstep.

"Building work has already started on site and we look forward to welcoming the residents of Thornbury to the new store when it opens towards the beginning of the summer."