SAINSBURY’S will open a shop in a busy Benfleet street, creating up to 25 jobs.

The supermarket giant plans to open a Sainsbury’s Local in the High Road next summer, in place of Benfleet Garage.

Up to 25 jobs will be created and it’s believed a free car park may be included in the plans.

It is the latest in a long line of mini-supermarkets to move into Castle Point.

A Sainsbury’s spokesman said: “Our Sainsbury’s Locals provide a different offer to our supermarkets as they are designed to meet the everyday top-up shopping needs of local residents who live within walking distance of the store.

“They offer an excellent range of fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy products, bakery goods, drinks, snacks and other convenience products. They tend to trade from 7am to 11pm.

“The store will create 20-25 jobs, which will predominantly go to local people.”

A new licence application has been submitted to Castle Point Council to sell alcohol at the shop at 308-314 High Road from Monday to Sunday between 7am and 11pm.

Benfleet Garage, which repairs vehicles and carries out MoTs, will remain open until December, when its lease expires, and is on the look-out for another site.

Liam Wakerley, who runs Benfleet Garage, said: “We’re not sure if they’ve got planning permission or anything yet.

“We rent the building and the landlord has decided to sell it.

“We’ve got another site that we are looking to go to locally, but we are open for business as usual here until at least December.”

Alf Partridge, ward councillor for St Mary’s, welcomed the new store.

He said: “I don’t think, it’s going to do any harmwhere it is.

“It will help increase the trade to those shops on that side.

“It’s a recognised brand and it may encourage more people to shop in the area generally. I think there’s room for both local shops and Sainsbury’s.

“I think it will be a blessing in disguise and there is talk of an off-road loading bay for their lorries, which shows the support the company is giving the community.

“At the moment, the High Road is blocked up by lorries delivering to the Co-op.

“I think they will have limited free parking for Sainsbury’s customers, which would make a big difference.”

SAINSBURY’S will be the latest in a long line of supermarkets to open in the borough.

Benfleet already boasts a Co-op, in London Road, Tarpots, and an M Local in the High Road.

There are also large Morrisons stores, in London Road, Hadleigh, and in Northwick Road, Canvey, as well as the newly-opened M Local, in Link Road, Canvey.

Budget supermarket chain Lidl has a store in London Road, Hadleigh, and rival Aldi opened in Rushbottom Lane, Tarpots, last October.