A SUPERMARKET that sparked a jobs rush is to open next month.

When Waitrose announced its plans for the store in Locks Heath, nearly 1,000 people applied for the 75 new full and part-time jobs being created.

The store, in Locks Heath Shopping Village, will now open on March 27.

Waitrose acquired the existing Co-op store in November last year. The Co-op ceased trading last Saturday and the keys will be handed over to Waitrose tomorrow.

The new store will be run by a team of 220, including the existing 120 former Co-op employees and around 75 new staff.

It will include meat, fish, cheese, delicatessen and bakery counters as well as a café.

Before opening it will undergo a refurbishment, part of which will involve closing the car park at the back of the store.

This means that the recycling unit will be relocated.

The petrol station will also be closed for five weeks while it is converted from Texaco to Shell.

The Waitrose Delivery Service will also be available for home deliveries.

Every month the store will donate £1,000 to local charities or groups chosen by customers.

Staff will also provide 250 hours of their time each year to local causes.