Aldi is giving all its staff in Lancashire a pay rise for the second time this year, maintaining its position as the UK’s best-paying supermarket.

From September, all hourly paid workers at stores across Lancashire will receive an increase of 40p an hour on their current hourly rate, taking Aldi’s minimum pay rates for store assistants to £10.50 an hour.

Aldi also remains the only supermarket to offer paid breaks, which for the average store worker is now worth more than £830 a year.

The new rates exceed the Living Wage Foundation’s recommended real living wage of £9.90 an hour nationally.

Giles Hurley, chief executive of Aldi UK and Ireland, said: “Our new rates of pay maintain Aldi’s position as the UK’s highest paying supermarket.

“This announcement recognises the amazing contribution our colleagues make in serving the local communities in Lancashire.

"Their outstanding efforts have ensured that our customers continue to have access to fresh affordable food, every single day.”

Aldi is the UK’s fifth-largest supermarket and has more than 970 stores across Britain.

Across East Lancashire it has three stores in Blackburn, along with two in Burnley, and sites in Accrington, Great Harwood, Rawtenstall, Clitheroe, Ramsbottom, and Chipping.