WORK has begun on stocking up the shelves in Blackburn's newest supermarket, due to open at the end of this month.

Contractors building the Lidl supermarket in Whalley Banks left earlier this week to make way for sales staff, who have now moved in. It will open at 9am on Monday, October 31.

It will be the third discount food retailer which only sells own-brand items to open in Blackburn. Aldi and Marks and Spencer have outlets, with Netto planning to open in Montague Street.

The Lidl plan divided residents. Some supported a petition which welcomed the development, while others expressed concern that it could create an accident blackspot near St Wilfrid's High School.

A condition of planning permission was that Lidl put in pedestrian refuges in Whalley Banks.