Hundreds of people are clamouring for a job at Lidl in Eastwood, despite the store not opening for months.

More than 1,500 people have applied for 40 jobs at the budget supermarket, which is due to open on the corner of Progress Road and Rayleigh Road.

Despite the store only being given the go-ahead two weeks ago, and an opening date set for late autumn, it has been inundated with applications.

Alasdair Fowle, a spokesman for Lidl, said: “We have received a high number of applications for the jobs being created at this store.

“It is enormously encouraging to have received so much interest in potential employment opportunities at this store. The new store will provide great investment in the local area and we’re pleased to bring new jobs to the community.”

The controversial application split the community, with three-quarters of visitors to a public consultation backing the scheme, but nearby businesses signing a 53-signature petition against it.

Nora Goodman, chairman of Eastwood Residents Association, said even at the open evening in 2013, where more than 800 people backed the scheme, people were interested in a job at the supermarket.

She said: “This shows it is going to be an enormous success.

I remember at the open evening they were talking to people about job opportunities and people were definitely saying they’d like to apply for a role there.

“It’s going to be a real asset to Eastwood as it has been a long time since we’ve had something of this sort here.”

As revealed by the Echo last summer, the German chain bought up Safestore for £1.3million, despite not having planning permission.

The firm reduced the number of parking spaces from 74 to 72, and will hand over £25,000 to improve the Rayleigh Road and Progress Road junction.

Lidl changed its design after being turned down twice by Southend Council and managed to get it passed on the third try.

The British Retail Consortium said working in retail offers people opportunities to move up the ranks quickly.

A consortium spokesman said: “As the largest private sector employer in the country retail invests heavily in the skills of its three million employees.

“The industry offers a range of benefits as well as the ability to progress up the career ladder rewarding merit and ambition.

Full plans will create almost 100 jobs

ALMOST 100 jobs will be created when Lidl opens its new Eastwood store.

Southend councillors turned down the supermarket’s first application as the plans didn’t include any office space.

The German chain went away and resubmitted plans which included offices above the new store, but then councillors said the building looked “too boring”.

After the company redesigned the outside of the supermarket, councillors finally voted to approve the store’s plans.

The offices above the store will add 53 roles to Lidl’s 40, bringing the total of new jobs to Eastwood up to 93.

Planning officers admitted without the office space, Lidl would be unlikely to have been given the green light.

At the development control meeting, held earlier this month, Southend Council officer, Janine Rowley, said: “If this did not include office space, we would probably have had a different recommendation.”